Senator Loren Legarda has called on Congress to fast-track reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s defense institutions, particularly the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
During a February 24 hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, which she chairs, Legarda underscored the need to modernize the DND and update the AFP’s capabilities in response to emerging security challenges.
“Times are changing, and our defense institutions must be able to keep pace. The threats we face today are no longer confined to land and sea, but now include cyber intrusions, disinformation operations, and other ‘gray zone’ tactics that test our cohesion and national resolve,” Legarda stated.
She cited continued harassment of Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea and the monitoring of Philippine vessels as signs that national security concerns are increasingly affecting daily life.
“We need a Department of National Defense that can respond to the future, with the professional civilian capability, legal authority, and funding tools to do its job well,” she emphasized.
“We also need an Armed Forces of the Philippines that is not burdened by outdated planning cycles and bureaucratic constraints, but is able to adapt swiftly to rapidly evolving technologies.”
The panel reviewed Senate Bill Nos. 146, 384, and 1816, which seek to clarify the DND’s authority, streamline its structure, and institutionalize reforms.
Key proposals include raising defense spending to 2 percent of GDP within five years, expanding senior leadership roles, and creating a dedicated Cyber Workforce.
Lawmakers also tackled transparency in government-to-government procurement, safeguards for multi-year contracts, and accountability in managing defense real estate assets.
Apart from defense transformation, the committee deliberated Senate Bill No. 1719, or the proposed Philippine Veterans’ Month Act, which seeks to declare April as Veterans’ Month to honor the legacy of Filipino veterans and improve access to services and benefits for them and their families.