Legarda pushes urgent defense reforms: DND transformation, AFP modernization, and veterans’ services in focus

Senator Loren Legarda, the first woman to chair the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, convened a hearing on February 24 to drive urgent reforms in the country’s defense institutions.

“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 said.

She pointed to harassment in the West Philippine Sea and the shadowing of Philippine vessels, stressing that national security concerns have entered “everyday conversations among ordinary Filipinos.”

The committee’s agenda was comprehensive, covering governance, procurement, personnel, budget, and long-term capability planning.

Attention turned to the Department of National Defense (DND) transformation proposals under Senate Bill Nos. 146, 384, and 1816. These measures aim to strengthen the DND Proper by clarifying its powers, streamlining its organizational role, and institutionalizing systemic reforms. Provisions include the progressive increase of defense spending to 2 percent of GDP within five years, the expansion of senior leadership positions, and the creation of a dedicated Cyber Workforce. Strategic concerns included transparency in government-to- government procurement, safeguards for multi-year contracts, and accountability in defense real property management.

Legarda underscored the need for agility in defense planning.

“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. We also need an Armed Forces of the Philippines that is not burdened by outdated planning cycles and bureaucratic constraints, but is able to adapt swiftly to rapidly evolving technologies,” Legarda said.

The hearing then examined the Revised AFP Modernization Program through Senate Bill No. 1845 and Senate Resolution No. 161. The proposal shifts the program from a fixed 15-year implementation period to a continuous, capability-based framework. This approach aims to accelerate modernization, ensure projects are threat-driven, and integrate fiscal safeguards. Key issues raised included financing flexibility, DBM certification requirements for long-term loans, and the need for explicit threat-based justification of modernization projects to strengthen strategic coherence and accountability.

Finally, the committee discussed Senate Bill No. 1719, the Philippine Veterans’ Month Act, which seeks to declare April as Veterans’ Month. The measure aims to institutionalize remembrance while improving access to services and benefits for veterans and their families. Discussions focused on ensuring decentralized service delivery to reach veterans in far-flung areas and integrating veterans’ history meaningfully into the Department of Education curriculum.

The hearing wrapped up with an agreement to form a Technical Working Group (TWG), tasked with both fast-tracking the passage of the three measures and fine-tuning the bills so they are ready for approval.

Legarda closed with a clear directive, emphasizing the path forward for the committee and the nation.

“Our duty today must be approached with precision: strengthen the DND, modernize the AFP, and honor those who served, so we can better secure our nation,” she said. (30)

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Legarda itinutulak ang agarang reporma sa depensa: DND transformation, AFP modernization, at serbisyo para sa mga Beterano

Pinangunahan ni Senadora Loren Legarda, ang kauna-unahang babae na namuno sa Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation, ang pagdinig noong Pebrero 24 upang igiit ang agarang reporma sa mga institusyong pangdepensa ng bansa.

“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,” ani Legarda.

Ipinunto niya ang pangha-harass sa West Philippine Sea at ang pag-shadow sa mga sasakyang pandagat ng Pilipinas, na patunay na ang usaping pangseguridad ay nakapasok na sa pang-araw-araw na usapan ng mga karaniwang Pilipino.

Malawak ang tinutukan ng komite, mula sa pamamahala, procurement, tauhan, badyet, hanggang pangmatagalang pagpaplano ng kakayahan.

Pinagtuunan ng pansin ang mga panukalang Department of National Defense Transformation sa ilalim ng Senate Bill Nos. 146, 384, at 1816. Layunin ng mga ito na palakasin ang DND Proper sa pamamagitan ng paglilinaw ng kapangyarihan, pagsasaayos ng tungkulin, at pag-institutionalize ng mga sistematikong reporma. Kabilang sa mga probisyon ang unti-unting pagtaas ng defense spending sa 2 porsyento ng GDP sa loob ng limang taon, pagpapalawak ng senior leadership positions, at paglikha ng dedikadong Cyber Workforce. Kasama rin ang transparency sa government-to-government procurement, safeguards para sa multi-year contracts, at pananagutan sa pamamahala ng defense real property.

Muling binigyang-diin ni Legarda ang pangangailangan ng pagiging mabilis at maliksi sa pagpaplano ng depensa.

“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. 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,” ani Legarda.

Tinalakay rin ang Revised AFP Modernization Program sa ilalim ng Senate Bill No. 1845 at Senate Resolution No. 161. Ang panukala ay nagbabago mula sa nakapirming 15-taong implementasyon tungo sa tuloy-tuloy na capability-based framework. Layunin nitong pabilisin ang modernisasyon, tiyakin na ang mga proyekto ay nakabatay sa banta, at isama ang fiscal safeguards. Ilan sa mga isyung binangon ay financing flexibility, DBM certification requirements para sa long-term loans, at pangangailangan ng malinaw na threat-based justification ng mga proyekto upang mapalakas ang strategic coherence at accountability.

Sa huli, tinalakay ang Senate Bill No. 1719, ang Philippine Veterans’ Month Act, na naglalayong ideklara ang Abril bilang Veterans’ Month. Layunin nitong gawing institusyonal ang pag-alala habang pinapabuti ang access sa serbisyo at benepisyo para sa mga beterano at kanilang pamilya. Tinalakay ang kahalagahan ng decentralized service delivery upang maabot ang mga beterano sa malalayong lugar at ang integrasyon ng kasaysayan ng mga beterano sa kurikulum ng Department of Education.

Natapos ang pagdinig sa kasunduan na bumuo ng Technical Working Group (TWG) na tututok sa pagpapabilis ng pagpasa ng tatlong panukala at pag-fine tune ng mga ito para sa agarang pag-apruba.

Nagbigay si Legarda ng malinaw na direktiba sa pagtatapos, na naglatag ng landas para sa komite at sa bansa.

“Our duty today must be approached with precision: strengthen the DND, modernize the AFP, and honor those who served, so we can better secure our nation,” ani niya. (30)