Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The state is cognizant that with the impending conflict between the key areas in 
the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines must prepare for the increasing demands 
to meet the needs of the national defense sector based on the following criteria: 
a) increased defense visibility through dispersal of personnel from the
headquarters to the field offices and by the appointment and assignment 
of non-uniformed personnel to positions which are purely administrative, 
technical, clerical or menial in nature and other positions which are not 
actually and directly related to national defense operations; and 
b) efficient and optimized delivery of defense services to all communities
within the national territory and boundaries. 
This House Bill Seeks to create a comprehensive National Defense Act to ensure 
accountability and uprightness in national security exercises of discretion as 
well as to achieve efficiency and effectiveness of its members and units in the 
performance of their functions and to provide funds thereof. 
Earnest approval of this bill is hereby requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D. 
July 1, 2022 
11:38 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
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 in Congress 
Assembled: 
 
SECTION 1. TITLE — This Act shall be known as the "National Defense 
Act of 2022." 
     SECTION 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. 
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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 (₱2,000,000,000.00) 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.  
SECTION 3. APPROPRIATIONS — The amount of Two Billion pesos 
(₱2,000,000,000.00) 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. 
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. 
SECTION 
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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 7. REPEALING CLAUSE. All laws, executive orders, issuances, 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed 
or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 9. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.  
Approved,