Department of National Defense (DND) – Philippines

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  • Headquarters: Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City 
  • Current Secretary: Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro Jr. (Incumbent since June 2023) 
  • Establishment: November 1, 1939 (Commonwealth Act No. 1)

The Department of National Defense (DND) (a.k.a. Kagawaran ng Tanggulang Pambansa) is the prime agency of the Philippine government mandated to guard the country against external and internal threats to peace and security.

While historically focused on internal insurgency, the DND has shifted its strategic pivot in the 2020s toward Territorial Defense and the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) to protect the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

Core Mandate & Mission

  • Primary Mission: To maximize national power for the protection of national interests and the promotion of peace, security, and stability.
  • Legal Basis: Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987) charges the DND with the supervision of the National Defense Program.
  • Strategic Goal: To secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of the national territory.

Organizational Structure & Attached Agencies

Unlike general overviews, it is critical to understand that the DND is the “mother agency” exercising executive supervision over several key bureaus, not just the military:

  1. Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): The primary combat force, consisting of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy (including Marines), and Philippine Air Force.
  2. Office of Civil Defense (OCD): The implementing arm of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), responsible for disaster preparedness and management.
  3. Government Arsenal (GA): Responsible for the production of basic weaponry and ammunition for the AFP to reduce reliance on imports.
  4. Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO): Manages the benefits and welfare of war veterans and retirees.
  5. National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP): The premier institution for education and research on defense and national security.

Key Strategic Priorities (Enhanced)

1. AFP Modernization Program (Horizon 3) The DND is currently implementing “Re-Horizon 3” of the AFP Modernization Act. Moving beyond basic capabilities, this phase focuses on high-impact external defense assets:

  • Acquisitions: Multi-role fighters, submarines, shore-based missile systems, and advanced radar surveillance.
  • Goal: To establish a “Minimum Credible Defense Posture” capable of deterring foreign aggression.

2. West Philippine Sea & Archipelagic Defense Addressing the 21st-century geopolitical landscape, the DND asserts the country’s sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea.

  • Policy: Implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), ensuring the AFP can project power into the country’s EEZ.
  • Action: Regular maritime patrols, resupply missions to outpost detachments (e.g., BRP Sierra Madre), and countering “grey zone” tactics by foreign maritime militias.

3. International Defense Cooperation The DND leverages a network of alliances to force-multiply its capabilities:

  • EDCA: Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, allowing rotational presence and facility improvements.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Growing security ties and Visiting Forces Agreements (VFA) or similar accords with nations like Japan, Australia, and South Korea.

4. Disaster Resilience & Nation Building Through the OCD and military engineering brigades, the DND is often the first responder to typhoons, earthquakes, and calamities, providing rapid deployment of search, rescue, and relief operations (HADR).

Why This Matters to Every Filipino

The DND does not just fight wars; it secures the “blue economy” (fishing and energy resources in Philippine waters), manages the risks of the country’s frequent natural disasters, and maintains the peace and order necessary for economic investment and tourism to thrive.ino people.

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Department of National Defense

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