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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, ERIC G. YAP, 
EDVIC G. YAP, and JEFFREY SORIANO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1987 Constitution gives credence to national defense in pursuit of its mandate to 
protect the citizens’ life, liberty, and property. Despite being embodied as national 
principles in the Constitution, national defense remains to be a complex and multi-
dimensional matter. In fact, the current operative law on national defense in the 
country is still Commonwealth Act No. 1 or the National Defense Act of 1935.  
Philippines is a sovereign state, which its essence calls for a launching of a 
comprehensive national security law. However, the prevailing National Defense Act 
of 1935 is not commensurate and remains unresponsive to the country’s present 
political and social climate, including its identity as a sovereign nation-state. It is 
worth-noting that the National Defense Act of 1935 was then crafted during a 
penetrating world war where the country is submerged into, in addition to its recent 
liberation from a four-decade colonial rule. It is in this accord that the country must 
be able to distinguish the former yearnings of the country to the present aspirations 
of the people as a nation-state, which was most especially epitomized in the 1987 
Constitution.  
In this regard, this bill seeks to establish a Comprehensive National Defense Act which 
will provide mechanisms and layout for the coordination of various agencies in 
addressing the multi-dimensional aspect of national security and defense. In addition, 
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this proposed measure will also provide a link that will redirect the spirit of national 
defense from the National Defense Act of 1935 to the 1987 Constitution.  
 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
PAOLO Z. DUTERTE  
 
 
 
ERIC G. YAP 
 
 
 
 
        EDVIC G. YAP 
 
   
           JEFFREY SORIANO 
 
 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
1st Regular Session 
House Bill No. ________ 
Introduced by Representatives PAOLO Z. DUTERTE, ERIC G. YAP, 
EDVIC G. YAP, and JEFFREY SORIANO 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT, TO FOSTER THE 
SUPPRESSION OF INSURGENCY AND OTHER SERIOUS THREATS TO 
NATIONAL SECURITY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "National Defense Act 
of 2022."  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
establish a highly efficient and competent national defense force which is national in 
scope and civilian in character administered and controlled by the national defense 
department. 
There is hereby created a comprehensive National Defense Act. 
The Department of National Defense (DND) shall be a community and service-
oriented agency responsible for the maintenance of peace and order, public safety. 
The DND shall be so organized to ensure accountability and uprightness in 
police exercise of discretion as well as to achieve efficiency and effectiveness of its 
members and units in the performance of their functions. Towards this end. 
The State shall hereby provide an additional authorize funding of Two Billion 
pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) to evolve and implement a comprehensive national program 
to the suppression of insurgency and other serious threats to national security and to 
maintain the continuity of its mandate. 
SEC. 3. Appropriations – The amount of Two Billion pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall be included in the annual budget 
of the implementing agency in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year 
following its enactment into law and every year thereafter. 
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The state shall hereby authorize the Department of National Defense to re-align 
its appropriations, in the current year of the date of the effectivity of this Act to 
conform with its mandate and requirements. 
 
SEC. 4. Role of the DND in Counter-Insurgency Functions – The Department 
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall be relieved of the primary 
responsibility on matters involving the suppression of insurgency and other serious 
threats to national security. 
 
The DND shall, through information gathering and performance of its 
functions, support the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on matters involving 
suppression of insurgency, except in cases where the president shall call on the DND 
to support the AFP in combat operations. 
 
In times of national emergency, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the 
Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology 
(BJMP) shall, upon the direction of the President, assist the armed forces in meeting 
the national emergency. 
 
SEC. 5. Periodic Reports – The DND shall submit periodic reports on its 
findings and make recommendations on actions to be taken by Congress and Senate 
and the appropriate department, and in order to carry out the objectives and mandates 
of this Act. 
 
SEC. 6. Automatic Review – Every three (3) years after the effectivity of this 
Act, an independent review panel composed of experts to be appointed by the 
President shall review the policies and programs in the DND and shall make 
recommendations, based on its findings, to the President and to both Houses of 
Congress. 
 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause – All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules and 
regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
 
SEC. 8. Separability Clause – If, for any reason or reasons, any portion or 
provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining 
provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in any newspaper of general circulation. 
 
 
 
Approved,