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 We also need an Armed Forces of the Philippines that is not burdened by outdated planning cycles and bureaucratic constraints, but is able to adapt swiftly to rapidly evolving technologies,” Legarda said.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