Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
To date, the National Defense Act of 1935 is still the primary legislation that governs matters of 
defense and security for the country. The said Act was enacted more than 80 years ago based 
upon the 1935 Constitution which has long been replaced by the 1987 Constitution. A constitution 
that is arguably different from its predecessor. 
Long after the National Defense Act of 1935 was enacted, numerous issuances and department 
orders have been enforced to allow for the reorganization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
Laws have also been enacted to alter and update personnel administration within the Armed 
Forces of the Philippines.  
In this regard, this proposed measure adopts the framework of the 1987 Constitution as regards 
the national defense and security of the country, redirecting links of different acts about the 
subject matter from the 1935 Constitution to the 1987 Constitution. This measure shall update 
policies, principles, and concepts relating to national defense and security; and institutionalize 
necessary improvements to then the country’s national defense.  
This proposed measure is based on House Bill No. 1225 filed by Representative Rufino Biazon 
during the 17th Congress.  
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good of the 
Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
August 24, 2022
1:15 pm
4082


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by HON. GUSTAVO S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:  
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This act shall be known as the National Defense and Security Act of 
2022. 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Principles. – 
a) Civilian authority is at all times supreme over the military. The President of the Philippines
shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and, whenever it
becomes necessary, the President may call such armed forces to prevent or suppress
lawless violence, invasion, or rebellion.
b) The prime duty, is to render personal, military, or civil service.
c) The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the
promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the
blessings of democracy.
Sec. 3. Declaration of National Defense Policies. – The national defense policy of the State 
shall be as follows: 
a) Obligation: The obligation to preserve the State is. symbiotic between the Government,
the individual citizen, and private sector organizations. The security of the State and the
freedom, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Republic of the
Philippines shall be guaranteed by all citizens for personal civil or military service. The
government is obliged to encourage all citizens and private sector organizations to prepare
themselves during peacetime for national service in times of war or national emergencies
through a system of incentives.
b) Authority: Authority over national defense and security matters shall be vested upon
persons and entities by the hierarchy of defense conditions set herein.
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c) Organization for National Defense and Security: The organization for national defense and 
security and its operation shall: 
1) Optimize the societal and political processes of a democratic state as provided by 
the Constitution where the Filipino people reign supreme and whose active 
participation and consultation shall be sought; 
2) Adapt as closely as possible to the configuration of Philippine territory and 
exclusive economic zones as defined by international law, conventions, and other 
agreements, and mitigate its disadvantageous effects by securing it through 
proactive means; 
3) Consider as a policy-planning imperative the archipelagic nature of Philippine 
territory that is located astride international lines of communications. 
d) Mobilization: The different types and scope of mobilization shall be carried out as a means 
for preparedness as well as in response to a threat of or. actual aggression, deterioration 
of internal security conditions, or impending calamities and disasters. 
e) Defense Real Estate: Portions of the state's domain determined by law as vital to national 
defense and security shall be placed in the category of national parks, held under trust by 
the defense establishment, the preservation and development of which shall be accorded 
the protection guaranteed by the Constitution. 
f) Industrial Mobilization and Convertibility: Planning and programming of industrial and 
infrastructure development to include research and development shall consider 
mobilization for defense as a primary objective and shall be subject to concurrence by the 
National Defense Systems Board. 
g) Defense Education: internalization of the individual citizen's obligation to protect the state 
shall be made part of the formative and continuing education of all citizens. 
 
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. – The following terms, when applied to this Act, shall mean: 
 
a) National Defense - the mechanism of the state to marshal a nation's forces and resources 
to protect national interests and respond to threats thereto. 
b) National Security - the state or condition wherein the national interests of the Republic of 
the Philippines, its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the well-being of its people 
and institutions, are preserved, protected, and enhanced. 
c) Exclusive Economic Zone (BEZ) - the area which extends to a distance of 200 nautical 
miles beyond and f om the baselines from which the territorial sea is measured; except 
that when the outer limits of the zone as thus determined to overlap the EEZ of an 
adjacent or neighboring state, the common boundaries shall be determined by agreement 
of the partiality the generally recognized principles of international law. 
d) State of Emergency - an unforeseen combination of circumstances that vests the Chief 
Executive’s extraordinary powers within the constitutional framework to address the 
situation. 
e) Threat - an act manifesting non-recognition or disregard of Philippine sovereignty and 
national territory; an act by a hostile state demonstrating the potential use of force to 
impose its will on the Filipino nation; a condition or set of conditions that demonstrate a 
potential to affect the security of the state. 
f) Challenge - an act manifesting non-recognition or disregard of Philippine rights to 
Exclusive Economic Zones as provided by international law, treaties, and agreements. 
g) Internal Disorders and certain destabilizing conditions include insurrection, rebellion, 
insurgency, and other similar conditions which threaten the security of the state. 


 
 
h) Localized - the definition of an area the coverage of which is not more than one province. 
i) Region-wide - an area covering more than one province but within an administrative 
region. 
j) Area-Wide - an area covering more than one administrative region; areas within a unified 
command. 
k) Internal Security Operations - actions were taken by the executive with the processes 
provided herein to address internal disorders arising either from internal or external 
causes. 
l) Command - the absolute capability endowed by law to act authoritatively; an entity of the 
state empowered to direct the armed forces. 
m) Armed Forces - when written in the lower case, refers to all uniformed services of the 
government bearing arms; when expressed in full and started with capital letters as Armed 
Forces of the Philippines, refers to the military establishment under the Department of 
National Defense. 
n) Type Command - a subordinate command of a major service that is charged with the 
mission of developing, training, maintaining, and providing operating forces char perform 
specific warfare functions. 
o) Forces - formations of manpower, materiel, and combat systems capable of counteracting 
threats. 
p) Reserves -those armed forces composed of citizens called to military service. 
q) Cadre - the nucleus of commissioned and non-commissioned officers as defined by law 
possessing the technical competence needed to organize, train, equip and direct reserve 
forces; the core framework of reserve forces. 
r) Civil Defense - protective measures and emergency relief activities conducted under 
civilian authority to minimize damage to persons or property and for maintaining vital 
facilities and services during war or natural disasters. 
 
Sec 5. Defense Conditions and Authority. – 
 
a) Defense Conditions shall be the bases for the designation of persons and entities to act 
on behalf of the state. Defense Conditions, hereinafter referred to as DEFCON, are 
circumstances where the three categories of events -- calamities, internal disorders, and 
externally caused incidents -- acting separately or in concert tend to, or threaten, the 
security of the state. The combination of the different intensity levels of these events 
constitutes the following hierarchy: 
1) Defense Condition One - Natural calamity or disaster impending; absence of 
threats, internal or external; 
2) Defense Condition Two - State of localized calamity or disaster; stare of localized 
internal disorder; right to exclusive economic zone challenged; 
3) Defense Condition Three - State of region-wide calamity or disaster; state of 
region-wide internal disorder; right to the exclusive economic zone is threatened; 
4) Defense Condition Four - State of nation-wide calamity or disaster; state of nation-
wide internal disorder; sovereignty and territorial integrity threatened; 
5) Defense Condition Five - Civil war prevailing; war is imminent; 
6) Defense Condition Six - Existence of a state of war. 
 
b) The following persons and entities are hereby designated to act on behalf of the state by 
the hierarchy of defense conditions set herein: 


 
 
1) Defense Condition One - Director General, Civil Defense Authority. 
2) Defense Condition Two - Director General, Civil Defense Authority; Chief, Philippine 
National Police; and heads of other national law enforcement agencies or their 
delegated subordinates in the furtherance of their mandated functions. 
3) Defense Condition Three - The President of the Republic of the Philippines in his 
capacity .as Commander-in-Chief of all Armed forces or his duly delegated 
subordinate(s}. 
4) Defense Condition Four - The President of the Republic of the Philippines in his 
capacity as Commander-in-Chief of all armed forces. 
5) Defense Condition Five - The President of the Republic of the Philippines in 
consultation with the national security entities designated herein. 
6) Defense Condition Six - Where material time is available, the President seeks 
authority from the Congress of the Republic of the Philippines; where material time 
is not available the President may invoke his powers to declare emergency 
measures as provided by the Constitution. 
 
TITLE I 
ORGANIZATION FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY 
 
ARTICLE I - General Provisions 
 
Sec. 6. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the Stace to ensure that the 
mechanism for the coordination of departments and agencies in addressing the complexity of 
national defense security is well established.  
 
Sec. 7. Processes in the Evolution of National Defense and Security Policies. – The 
evolution of national defense and security policies shall undergo processes as prescribed herein: 
 
a) Consultation - the process by which the Chief Executive seeks a formal consensus on 
policy short of a referendum. This process may be undertaken during the formulation of 
policy and in determining the continuance or modification of existing policies. 
b) Advisement - the process by which the Chief Executive seeks technical, expertise, and 
other forms of relevant inputs to the formulation, execution, and review of w the policy. 
c) Review and Oversight - the process by which the implementation of policy is monitored, 
deviations investigated, and continuance determined. 
 
ARTICLE II - National Defense and Security Policy Entities 
 
Sec. 8. Consultative Entities. – The following consultative entities are hereby created: 
 
a) Peace and Order Councils: The existence of the following levels of the Peace and Order 
Council (POC) shall be institutionalized as consultative entities: 
 
1) National Peace and Order Council; 
2) Regional Peace and Order Council; 
3) Provincial Peace and Order Council; 
4) City or Municipal Peace and Order Council 


 
 
The Chief Executive, taking into consideration time factors and the extent of broad base 
consultation needed on a certain issue shall consult at the appropriate POC level. In the 
declaration of a defense condition (DEFCON), the designated authorities mandated herein are 
required to consult the appropriate POC starting at DEFCON 3. 
 
b) National Security Council: The National Security Council (NSC) is a consultative entity from 
which the President generates a broad spectrum of political support for potentially 
contentious decisions. The broad spectrum of the political character of the National 
Security Council shall be composed of the following representatives from the legislature 
and the ranks of the past Presidents and past Chief Justices of the Supreme Court: 
 
1) President as Chairman; 
2) Vice-President; 
3) Senate President; 
4) Speaker of the House of Representatives; 
5) Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations; 
6) Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Relations; 
7) Chairman, Senate Committee on National Defense and Security; 
8) Chairman, House Committee on National Defense; 
9) Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Order; 
10) Chairman, House Committee on Public Order· and Safety; 
11) Past Presidents of the Philippines; 
12) Former Chief Justices, Supreme Court; 
13) National Security Adviser 
 
c) The Chief Executive is required to convene the National Security Council for the following: 
1) The following thing intention to declare DEFCO,3, 4, r 5; 
2) Communicating planning, programming, and budget guidance for a forthcoming 
budget call. 
 
Sec. 9. Advisory Entities/Bodies; Functions. – The following entities shall perform advisory 
functions: 
 
a) National Security Adviser: The National Security Adviser is the principal advisor of the 
President on national security matters. He shall also be the concurrent Director General 
of the National Security Council and head of its Secretariat. 
b) National Intelligence Agency (NIA): The NIA is the central authority on national 
intelligence. As such, it shall conduct, direct, coordinate, and integrate government 
activities involving national intelligence, and the preparation of intelligence estimates of 
local and foreign situations for the formulation of national policies. It shall be headed by 
a Director General. 
c) National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA): The existing NEDA shall likewise 
serve as an advisory entity. It shall be the focal point for the direction, coordination, and 
integration of government activities involving the economy and the preparation of 
estimates and forecasts of the nation's capacity to support and/or finance national defense 
and security objectives in the short, medium, and long-term bases. 
d) There shall be created a National Defense Systems Board (NDSB) which shall be composed 
of the Secretaries of the following departments: 


 
 
 
1) Department of National Defense - Chairman; 
2) National Economic and Development Authority; 
3) Department of Budget and Management; 
4) Department of Trade and industry; 
5) Department of Public Works and Highways; 
6) Department of Environmental and Natural Resources; 
7) Department of Transportation and Communications; 
8) Department of Health;  
9) National Security Adviser; and 
10) Department of Energy. 
 
e) The NDSB shall perform the following functions: 
 
1) Advise the President on matters involving the declaration of certain portions of the 
state's domain as vital to national defense and security thus classifying them as 
defense real estate. 
2) Advise the President on matters involving the national defense and security 
convertibility' or dual-use provisions for industrial and infrastructure development. 
3) Advise the President on other development projects, such as but not! limited to, 
exploitation or utilization of natural resources in or adjacent to declared defense 
real estate. 
4) Recommend to the President such initiatives that relate to defense systems. 
 
The organization, staffing, and budget of the National Defense Systems Board shall 
be provided for in an executive issuance by the President. 
 
Sec. 10. Review and Oversight. - Congress shall be the principal entity 10 conduct periodic 
review and oversight initiatives over existing national defense and security policy established by 
Jaw. 
 
ARTICLE II -. National-Command Authority 
 
Sec. 11. The National Command Authority. - There shall be created the National Command 
Authority (NCA). Its function is to provide prompt operational decision analysis to national-level 
defense and security estimates and produce responsive decision outputs for the President. The 
National Command Authority processes requirements for major force mobilization and 
deployments and statements regarding current government positions on national defense and 
security issues. Its organization and staffing shall be provided for in an executive issuance by the 
President. 
 
Sec. 12. Composition of 1he NCA. - The National Command Authority shall be composed of 
the following: 
 
a) The President of the Republic of the Philippines as Chairman; 
b) Secretary of the National Defense; 
c) Secretary of the Interior and Local Government; 
d) Secretary of Foreign Affairs; 


 
 
e) Secretary of Justice; 
f) Chief of Staff, AFP; 
g) Chief, PNP; 
h) National Security Adviser; 
i) Director General, Civil Defense Authority; 
 
ARTICLE III - The Strategic Defense Structure 
Sec. 13. Definition and Nature of the Strategic Defense Structure. - The Strategic 
Defense Structure (SDS) shall prescribe the wartime table of organization and equipment, the 
troop ceiling or percentage of peacetime fill-up, and the table of the distribution of ranks within 
the prescribed troop ceiling. The SOS shall likewise consider the operating environment peculiar 
to the major services of the AFP and set the jurisdictions of Armed Forces of the Philippines 
unified command and their equivalent in the law enforcement agencies and the Civil Defense 
Authority.  
 
The President shall, within. the first year of his administration, determine the Strategic Defense 
Structure (SDS) of the country for joint approval of Congress: Provided, that if no such structure 
is proposed, the exiting defense structure shall remain effective for the rest of his administration 
unless Congress initiates amendments thereto or replacements thereof' Provided, further. That 
the SDS initiated by Congress shall have an effective life of not less than four years.  
 
Sec. 14. The Unified Commands. - The Unified Commands of the AFP shall serve as command-
and-control headquarters of the operational forces provided by the major services and as directors 
of joint and combined operations. The organization of the Unified Commands shall as for as 
practicable recognize the applicability of certain warfare functions to the geographic peculiarities 
and the prevailing threat conditions.  
 
Sec. 15. Area Commissioner. - An Area Commissioner shall be appointed by the President, in 
his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief, when an area-wide slate of emergency, natural or man-
made, is declared by DEFCON 3 and DEFCON 4 of office is coterminous with the stipulated period 
of emergency granted to the President by Congress. His mission is to address the emergency in 
his area of responsibility in conformity with the guidance and policy directives from the President. 
 
ARTICLE IV - Department of National Defense 
 
Sec. 16. Organization. - The Department of National Defense, hereinafter referred to as the 
DND, shall be composed of the Secretary, the Undersecretaries, and Assistant Secretaries and 
their immediate staff as determined by them respectively and such other bodies as provided by 
law.  
 
Sec. 17. The Secretary of National Defense. - The Secretary of National Defense, hereinafter 
referred to as the SND, is the head of the Department of National Defense. The SND is the 
principal advisor to the President on national defense matters. The SND shall optimize the 
effectiveness of the DND in guarding against external and internal threats to national defense 
and security; assisting social and economic development, and in performing such other functions 
as may be provided by law. The SND shall perform the following duties: 
 


 
 
a) Establish general policies and programs for the national defense establishment and all of 
the agencies therein; 
b) Exercise general direction, authority, and control over such agencies; 
c) Take appropriate steps to eliminate unnecessary duplication or overlapping in the fields 
of procurement, supply, transportation, storage, health, and research; 
d) Supervise and coordinate the reparation of the budget estimates of the departments and 
agencies comprising the national defense establishment; 
e) Formulate and determine the budget estimates of the DND for submission to the 
Department of Budget of Management; and 
f) Supervise the budget programs of such departments and agencies under the DND. 
 
Sec. 18. The Undersecretaries. - There shall be three (3) Undersecretaries in the DND. The 
Undersecretaries shall perform such powers and duties as the SND may prescribe. They, in the 
order of precedence designated by the President, shall act for and exercise such powers and 
duties of the SND when he is incapable to do so.  
 
ARTICLE V - Armed Forces of the Philippines 
 
Sec. 19. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); Functions. - The Armed Forces of 
the Philippines (AFP) is the military establishment of the country under the command, control, 
and supervision of the President of the Philippines as its Commander-in-Chief through the Chief 
of Staff, AFP. Its broad functions are: 
 
a) Protect the people and the State, and secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity 
of the national territory: 
b) Promote and advance the national interests and objectives; 
c) Plan, organize, develop, maintain and deploy the Base Force and Reserve Force for 
national defense and security; 
d) Assist in national social and economic development; 
e) Subject to the provisions of this act, prepare all forces for the effective prosecution of 
criminals and defend the territory of the Philippines against all enemies, foreign or 
domestic; and 
f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by higher authorities. 
 
Sec. 20. Composition of the AFP. - The AFP shall be composed of a citizen armed force that 
shall undergo military training and service as provided by law. It shall be organized and 
maintained in a manner that shall render it capable of rapid expansion from a peacetime 
organization to an airtime or emergency organization. It shall be composed of: 
 
a) A Base Force necessary for the day-to-day security of the state. The Base Force shall 
constitute the core formation of the citizen armed force from which expansion may be 
carried through the mobilization process. The Base Force shall consist of career 
professional officers, enlisted personnel, reservists called to active duty, draftees, trainees, 
and government-sponsored Filipino cadets enrolled in local or foreign military schools. The 
officers and enlisted ranks of the Base Force shall be drawn proportionately from all 
provinces and cities as far as practicable. 
b) A Reserve Force, which shall be organized, trained, maintained, integrated, test-mobilized, 
and test-deployed annually during peacetime for employment with the Armed Force in 


 
 
times of war or national emergencies. All able-bodied citizens shall undergo military 
training after which they shall become reservists with appropriate ranks. 
c) A civilian component maintained through a plantilla approved by the proper authorities. 
  
Sec. 21. Organizing Principles of the AFP. - The organizing principles of the AFP shall be the 
following: 
 
a) The Major Services through their respective commanders are responsible to the 
Commander-in-Chief through the Chief of Staff, APP, and the Secretary of National 
Defense for the development, administration, and maintenance of forces. The Unified 
Command Commanders are responsible to the Commander-in-Chief through the Chief of 
Staff, AFP, and the National Command Authority for the deployment, direction, and control 
of forces. 
b) It shall conform to Section 5 of Article II and Sections 20 and 21 of Article VII in the 
organization of the Unified Commands. 
c) It shall develop the capability to participate in the socio-economic development program 
of the government and thereby keep the military within mainstream society. 
d) It shall prescribe the manning levels of the Base Force in a manner that shall ensure a 
more predictable base for costing forecasts and programming of troop ceilings. 
 
Sec. 22. Organization of the AFP. - The Armed Forces of tile Philippines shall be organized as 
follows: 
 
a) General Headquarters - the Headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief from where 
administrative and operational matters are planned, executed, and supervised. It shall be 
located as close as practicable to the political seat of government. 
b) Unified Commands - deploy, direct and control the operating forces. 
c) Major Services - maintain and provide forces peculiar to operating environments: 
1) Philippine Army; 
2) Philippine Air Force; and 
3) Philippine Navy. 
 
article Vl - General Headquarters, Armed Forces of the Philippines 
 
Sec. 23. The General Headquarters. - There shall be in the Armed forces of the Philippines a 
General Headquarters composed of the joint general, special, technical, and such other staff 
offices which may be necessary for the administration and operation of the military establishment. 
It shall be under the direction and authority of the President of the Philippines. It shall: 
 
a) Prepare strategic security and defense plans of the AFP; 
b) Prepare logistics plans and assign logistic responsibilities within the AFP by those plans; 
c) Formulate policies for AFP joint training and coordinate the military education of the 
different major services; and 
d) Perform such other functions as the President or the Secretary of National Defense may 
prescribe. 
 
Sec 24. The AFP Leadership. - The AFP leadership shall be composed of the following: 
 


 
 
a) Chief of Staff AFP, The Chief of Staff, AFP, shall have the rank of General/Admiral and 
serve as the principal adviser to the Commander-in-Chief and head of the General 
Headquarters. He shall be appointed by the President for a term not exceeding three years 
by the Constitution. However, in times of war or other national emergencies declared by 
Congress, the President may extend such a tour of duty. 
b) Vice Chief of Staff. The Vice Chief of Staff shall have the rank of Lieutenant General/Vice 
Admiral and serve as the principal assistant of the Chief of Staff, AFP. 
c) Deputy Chief of Staff: The Deputy Chief of Staff, shall have the rank of Lieutenant 
General/Vice Admiral and serve as the supervisor and coordinator of the Joint, Special, 
and Technical Staff. 
 
ARTICLE VII - Philippine Army 
 
Sec. 25. Composition of the Philippine Army - The Philippine Army shall be composed of its 
headquarters, land combat and service support units, and such other units as may be necessary 
for the conduct of ground operations. lt shall be responsible for the preparation of land forces 
necessary for the effective prosecution of the war, except as otherwise assigned; and, by the 
integrated mobilization plans, a program for the expansion of the peacetime strength of the Army 
to meet the needs of war. It shall be headed by the Commanding General, Philippine Army 
(CGPA), who shall hold the rank of Lieutenant General. 
 
Sec. 26. Functions of the Philippine Army. - The Philippine Army shall: 
 
a) Organize, train, equip and employ active territorial and maneuver forces for prompt and 
sustained operations on land; 
b) Prepare such units as may be necessary for the effective execution of national defense 
plans and programs and armed forces missions, including the expansion of the peacetime 
army component to meet any emergency; 
c) Develop doctrines, procedures, tactics, techniques, and organization and equipment (to 
include aviation) peculiar to the Army for uni-service operations: 
d) ln coordination with the cognizant agencies identified herein, develop and maintain 
strategic resistance areas in the highlands, engagement areas in the lowlands, ground 
lines of support, and the command center system specified by the strategic defense. 
structure (SDS); develop and maintain programs for the prompt conversion of such public 
utilities and industries which may be needed in the conduct of ground warfare into peculiar 
warfare formations during mobilization: and 
e) Organize, train, equip, administer, regularly test-mobilize, and test-deploy the army 
reserve component. 
 
ARTICLE VIII - Philippine Air Force 
 
Sec. 27. Composition force Philippine Air Force. - The Philippine Air Force shall be 
composed of its headquarters, air combat and service forces, and such other units as may be 
necessary for the conduct of air operations. It shall be responsible for the preparation of air forces 
necessary for the effective prosecution of the war. except as otherwise assigned; and, by the 
integrated mobilization plans, a program for the expansion of the peacetime components of the 
Air force to meet the needs of war. It shall be headed by the Commanding General, Philippine Air 
Force (CGPAF) who shall hold the rank of Lieutenant General. 


 
 
 
Sec 28. Functions of the Philippine Air Force. - The Philippine Air Force shall: 
 
a) Organize, train, equip and employ air forces for prompt and sustained air operations; 
b) Provide for air defense; 
c) Organize, train, and equip air forces for airlift, airborne, and tactical air operations 
unilaterally or jointly with the ground and/or naval forces; 
d) ln coordination with the cognizant agencies identified herein, develop and maintain a 
system of alternative airbases, air corridor components of strategic lines of support; 
develop and maintain programs aimed at the propagation of individual aviation skills in 
the private sector and the prompt conversion of the aviation industry into peculiar air 
warfare formations during mobilization; 
e) Formulate and develop doctrines, concepts, systems, procedures, strategies, tactics, and 
techniques for operations peculiar to the Air Force; and 
f) Organize, train, equip, administer, regularly test-mobilize, and test-deploy the air force 
reserve component. 
 
ARTICLE IX - Philippine Navy 
 
Sec. 29. Composition of the Philippine Navy. - The Philippine Navy shall be composed of its 
headquarters, naval combat forces, service forces, the Philippine Marine Corps, and such other 
forces as may be necessary for the conduct of naval operations. It shall be responsible for the 
preparation of naval forces necessary for the effective prosecution of the war, except otherwise 
assigned; and, by the integrated mobile integrated, a program for the expansion of the peace-
time components of the navy to meet the needs of war. It shall be headed by the flag Officer in 
Command, Philippine Navy (FOIC, PN) who shall hold the rank of Vice Admiral. 
 
Sec. 30. Functions of the Philippine Navy. -The Philippine Navy shall: 
 
a) Organize, train, equip and deploy naval forces for prompt and sustained naval operations; 
b) Provide for naval defense; 
c) Secure the country's internal and territorial waters and its interest in the exclusive 
economic zone; 
d) ln coordination with the cognizant agencies identified herein, develop and maintain the 
principal and alternate base systems, maritime links to ground lines of support, programs 
aimed at the prompt conversion of maritime industry sectors into peculiar naval warfare 
formations during mobilization, and such programs aimed at propagating among private 
sector individuals and groups such maritime skills which can be used for naval warfare; 
e) Prepare the necessary naval units for the effective execution of national defense plans 
and programs and Armed Forces missions, including the expansion of a peacetime navy 
component to meet the needs of war; 
f) Develop doctrines, concepts, systems, procedures, strategies, tactics, and techniques for 
operations peculiar to the Navy; and 
g) Organize, train, equip, regularly test-mobilize and test-deploy the naval reserve 
component. 
 
Sec. 31. The Philippine Marine Corps. - The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) shall be a type 
command of the Philippine Navy and shall be headed by the Commandant, Philippine Marine 


 
 
Corps, who shall hold the rank of Major General. The mission of the Corps is to provide combined 
arms maneuver forces to the unified commands and landing forces to Navy fleet forces for the 
conduct of amphibious operations and other actions essential to the prosecution of naval defense. 
The Philippine Marine Corps shall have the following functions: 
 
a) Organize, train, equip and maintain units of combined arms for amphibious operations, 
ground combat operations, and internal security operations, and provide coastal artillery 
defense and early warning and surveillance of maritime corridors and choke points; 
b) Develop in coordination with other services the doctrines, tactics, techniques, and 
equipment employed by landing forces during amphibious operations; 
c) Maintain deployable forces-in-readiness up to division size; type command rear service 
support units and the core formations of the Marine ready reserve forces; 
d) Participate in national socio-economic development and assist in times of calamities and 
disasters; and 
e) Perform such other duties as may be directed by higher authorities. 
 
ARTICLE X -Reserve Forces 
 
Sec. 32. Organization, Development Maintenance and Direction of Reserve Forces. - 
The organization, development, maintenance, and direction of Reserve Forces shall as much as 
practicable adhere to the following principles: 
 
a) Shall be as capable as the Base Forces; 
b) Conform to the organization and training of the Base Forces; 
c) Be established through the same tables of organization and distribution as the Base 
Forces; 
d) Shall be made interoperable with the deployment doctrines of the Unified Commands. 
 
Sec. 33. Development, Maintenance, Employment and Deployment of Reserve Forces. 
- The development, maintenance, employment, and deployment of Reserve Forces shall consist 
of the following process: 
 
a) Manpower Development Phase. The Major Services through their respective Reserve 
Commands shall maintain a manpower development program for the production of the 
different reservist lists of their respective reserve components. Major Service Reserve 
Commands shall be responsible for the registration, individual training, and administration 
of reservists. Under peacetime conditions below DEFCON Four, ready reserve lists shall 
be composed of volunteers. Compulsory service may be invoked only when DEFCON Four 
and higher is declared. 
b) Reserve Forces Development Phase. The Major Services through their respective Type 
Commands shall receive from their Reserve Commands reservists called for periodic 
peacetime mobilization and integration into activated ready reserve formations by the 
doctrine and warfare requirements of Unified Commands. Major Service type commands 
shall be responsible for the equipage, unit training, and administration of activated ready 
reserve formations. Activated reservists shall remain in the ready reserve status for two 
years. 


 
 
c) Reserve Forces Deployment Phase. Unified Commands receive activated ready reserve 
formations for deployment. Unified Commands shall likewise ensure that activated ready 
reserve formations remain interoperable with base forces under their direction. 
d) Civil Defense Deployment Phase. Area directors of the Civil Defense Authority assume 
operational control over activated ready reserve formations after their Unified Command 
deployment. These activated ready reserve formations assume civil defense tasks for one 
year. 
e) Deactivation Phase. Deactivation of activated ready reserve formations shall be made after 
completion of Phases (b), (c) and (d) through their respective Major Services upon 
recommendation of the Civil Defense Authority. 
 
Sec. 34. Career Development Program for Reservists. - The DND shall provide a continuing 
career development program to attract dedicated reservists for service in the reserve cadres.  
 
ARTICLE XI - Administration and Management of the AFP 
 
Sec. 35. Administration of the AFP. - The administration of the Armed Forces of the 
Philippines shall be the responsibility of the Secretary of National Defense.  
 
Sec. 36. Personnel Policies. - Personnel policies and administration shall be by the following 
principles: 
 
a) Recruitment to the Armed Forces shall be governed by the principle of equality, without 
distinction of any kind as to, ethnicity, gender, religion, and political beliefs. It shall be 
limited to natural-born citizens in the case of officers; 
b) Career management in education, training, assignment, and appointment shall provide for 
equal opportunities to all members; 
c) Promotion of members of the Armed Forces shall be based on merit, efficiency, and 
competence. It shall be governed by the principles of justice, equality, fairness, and 
professionalism; 
d) Members of the Armed Forces shall receive pay, allowances, and other benefits that shall 
promote professionalism and afford them a respectable life; 
e) Members of the Armed Forces shall be entitled to retirement and separation benefits that 
shall enable them to live a decent life. Retirement and separation benefits shall not be 
subject to attachment, garnishment, levy, and execution of any tax whatsoever, neither 
shall they be assigned, ceded, or conveyed to any third party; 
f) The process of attrition of members of the Armed Forces shall consider the best interest 
of the service over that of its members; and 
g) A pyramidal rank structure for both officers and enlisted personnel for the Base Force shall 
be maintained. The personnel attributed in the process of maintaining the pyramidal 
structure shall be incorporated into the Ready Reserve formations. 
 
TITLE II 
INTERNAL SECURITY 
 
ARTICLE XII -Policies on Internal Security Operations 
 


 
 
Sec 37. Declaration of Policy. -It is hereby declared the policy of the State that constitutional 
guarantees on civil liberties shall be upheld during the conduct of internal security operations 
unless suspended through processes prescribed by the Constitution. 
 
Sec. 38. Role of the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government. - The Secretary of 
the Interior and Local Government, hereinafter referred to as the SILG, shall be the principal 
adviser to the President on matters about interior and local government matters. The SILG shall 
optimize the effectiveness of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in the 
enhancement of public safety and peace and order programs by assisting in social, political, and 
economic development and in performing such other functions as may be provided by law.  
 
Sec. 39. Responsibility for the Conduct of Internal Security Operations. - Responsibility 
for the conduct of internal security operations shall be linked with the hierarchy of defense 
conditions prescribed in Section 10, Article III of this Act where the Philippine National Police is 
responsible for initiating responses to DEFCON One and Two. Starting from DEFCON Three (3) 
and higher, the Armed Forces of the Philippines shall assume operational responsibility over all 
internal security operations.  
 
Sec. 40. Conversion of Law Enforcement Agencies Imo Ready Reserve Forces. - All law 
enforcement agencies shall be converted into the different categories and types of ready reserve 
forces as prescribed by pertinent enabling laws and their implementing rules and regulations and 
shall be subordinated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines starting from DEFCON Five and Six. 
The Commander-in-Chief shall promulgate rules and regulations classifying law enforcement 
agencies into ready reserve forces to provide support and assistance to entities of the Civil 
Defense Authority during different DEFCON levels. 
 
Ready Reserve Forces may be deployed for internal security operations under the operational 
direction of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. 
 
ARTICLE XIII - Law Enforcement Agencies 
 
Sec. 41. Organization of Law Enforcement Agencies. - As much as practicable, law 
enforcement agencies shall be organized along similar lines as the Unified Commands of the 
Armed Forces of the Philippines and the area organizations of the Civil Defense Authority to 
ensure interoperability of forces during mobilization for war and national emergencies.  
 
They shall be governed by the pertinent enabling acts and their respective implementing rules 
and regulations about preparations for their role as military reserves.  
 
TITLE III 
SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SECURITY 
 
ARTICLE XIV - Foreign Policy Support 
 
Sec. 42 Declaration of Policy. - The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national 
policy and adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with 
all nations. 
 


 
 
Sec 43. Role of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs. - The Secretary of Foreign Affairs shall be 
the principal adviser to the President on matters of foreign affairs. He shall optimize the 
effectiveness of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the enhancement of foreign policy 
about security and defense and the conduct of proactive diplomacy for the furtherance of 
Philippine national defense and security interests. The SFA shall likewise be responsible for the 
determination, initiation, and entry into multilateral or bilateral defense and security relations with 
other nations in consultation with the SND and SILG. It shall also be the responsibility of the SFA 
to monitor external dimensions of domestic defense and security situations and take appropriate 
measures abroad in consultation with the SND and SILG. 
 
ARTICLE XV - The Office of Civil Defense 
 
Sec. 44. The Office of Civil Defense. - The Office of Civil. Defense (OCD) shall have the 
primary mission of administering a comprehensive national civil defense and disaster risk 
reduction and management program by providing leadership in the continuous development of 
strategic and systematic approaches as well as measures to reduce the vulnerabilities and risks 
to hazards arid manage the consequences of disasters.  
 
Sec 45. Powers and Functions of the OCD. - The OCD shall have the following powers and 
functions: 
 
a) Advise the National Council on matters relating to disaster risk reduction and management 
consistent with the policies and scope as defined in this Act; 
b) Formulate and implement the NDRRMP and ensure that the physical framework, social, 
economic, and environmental plans of communities, cities, municipalities, and provinces 
are consistent with such plan. The National Council shall approve the NDRRMP; 
c) Identify, assess and prioritize hazards and risks in consultation with key stakeholders; 
d) Develop and ensure the implementation of national standards in carrying out disaster risk 
reduction programs including preparedness, mitigation, prevention, response, and 
rehabilitation works, from data collection and analysis, planning, implementation, 
monitoring, and evaluation; 
e) Review and evaluate the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans (LDRRMPs) 
to facilitate the integration of disaster risk reduction measures into the local 
Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) and Comprehensive Land-Use Plan (CLUP); 
f) Ensure that the LGUs, through the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices 
(LDRRMOs) are properly informed and adhere to the national standards and programs; 
g) Formulate standard operating procedures for the deployment of rapid assessment teams, 
information sharing among different government agencies, and coordination before and 
after disasters at all levels; 
h) Establish standard operating procedures on the communication system among the 
provincial, city, municipal, and barangay disaster risk reduction and management councils, 
for purposes of warning and alerting them and for gathering information on disaster areas 
before, during, and after disasters; 
i) Establish Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training Institutes in a such suitable 
location as may be deemed appropriate to train public and private individuals, both local 
and national, in the such subject as disaster risk reduction and management among 
others. The Institute shall consolidate and prepare training materials and publications of 
disaster risk reduction and management books and manuals to assist disaster risk 


 
 
reduction and management workers in the planning and implementation of this program 
and projects. The Institute shall conduct research programs to upgrade knowledge and 
skills and document best practices on disaster risk reduction and management. The 
Institute is also mandated to conduct: periodic awareness and education programs to 
accommodate new elective officials and members of the LDRRMCs; 
j) Ensure that all disaster risk reduction programs, projects, and activities requiring regional 
and international support shall be by duly established national policies and aligned with 
international agreements; 
k) Ensure that government agencies and LGUs give top priority and take adequate and 
appropriate measures in disaster risk reduction and management; 
l) Create an enabling environment for substantial and sustainable participation of CSOs, 
private groups, volunteers, and communities, and recognize their contributions to the 
government's disaster risk reduction efforts; 
m) Conduct early recovery and post-disaster needs assessment institutionalizing gender 
analysis as part of it; 
n) Establish an operating facility to be known as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and 
Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC) that shall be operated and staffed on a 
twenty-four (24) hour basis; 
o) Prepare the criteria and procedure for the enlistment of accredited community disaster 
volunteers (ACDVs). It shall include a manual of operations for the volunteers which shall 
be developed by the OCD in consultation with various stakeholders; 
p) Provide advice and technical assistance and assist in mobilizing necessary resources to 
increase the overall capacity of LGUs, specifically the low-income and high-risk areas; 
q) Create the necessary offices to perform its mandate as provided under this Act; and 
r) Perform such other functions as may be necessary for effective operations and 
implementation of this Act. 
 
ARTICLE XVI - Defense Real Estate 
 
Sec. 46. Defense Real Estate. -These refer to portions of the public domain set aside and 
developed to enhance the defense posture of the country. They shall be classified as national 
parks.  
 
The President shall determine those portions of the public domain identified as critical to the 
Strategic Defense Structure (SDS) of the country which require classification as Defense Real 
Estate. Classification and utilization of portions of lands of the public domain for infrastructure 
development other than defense shall first be concurred in by the National Defense Systems 
Board. 
 
ARTICLE XVII - Industrial Mobilization and Convertibility 
Sec 47. Industrial Mobilization. - industrial mobilization refers to the transformation of the 
industry from its peacetime activity to a status necessary to support national defense and security 
objectives. It shall include mobilization of materials, labor, capital, production facilities, and 
transport services essential for national defense and security in times of war and other national 
emergencies: Mobilization may be invoked by the President through his powers provided herein 
or as specified by other legislation and executive issuances. 
  


 
 
Sec. 48. Industrial Convertibility - Industrial Convertibility refers to a set of actions 
undertaken by the government to ensure that the development of industries and their 
concomitant infrastructure shall consider their potential defense utilization and are preplanned 
for conversion to wartime application.  
 
Sec. 49. Priorities and Allocations. - During DEFCON 4, 5, and 6, the President is hereby 
authorized:  
 
a) To require that performance under contracts or orders which he deems necessary for 
national defense and security purposes shall take priority over any other contract or order; 
and 
b) To allocate materials, facilities, and resources as he deems necessary for national defense 
and security purposes. 
 
Sec. 50. Public Utilities and Other Private Enterprises at the Disposal of the State. - 
During the appropriate DEFCON level, the President may direct the temporary takeover or direct 
the operation of any public utility and such other businesses affected with public interest by the 
armed forces or other government agencies to ensure the  
unhampered operation. Public utilities and such other businesses affected with public interest 
shall refer to any establishment, firm, or corporation which provides materials or services to the 
public such as electricity, natural gas, mineral oil, and its derivatives, communications, 
transportation, water works, and sewerage systems, shipyards, shipping, civil aviation, hospitals 
and clinics, mass media, architectural and engineering firms, and such other facilities whose 
products and services are vital to national defense and security. 
 
Sec. 51. Indemnity - In case of any physical damage incurred by an industrial facility directly 
or indirectly resulting from the government takeover or supervision and control of the such facility, 
the person(s) owning the facility shall be appropriately compensated. The Secretaries of National 
Defense and Security and Budget and Management shall jointly promulgate such rules and 
regulations that shall govern the provisions of this Article. 
 
ARTICLE XVIII – Defense Education 
 
Sec. 52. Defense Education. - The Department of National Defense shall maintain a defense 
and security education system that is formative, firm, progressive, and continuing. This defense 
and security education system shall address the need of internalizing in the citizenry their 
obligation to preserve the state; in the active military professionals the vocation of their career, 
and in the political leadership sector the skills in formulating national defense and security policy. 
 
The Department of National Defense may enter into arrangements with learning institutions, local 
or foreign, for the conduct of such education, training, and research programs designed to keep 
the defense establishment abreast with current trends and developments.  
 
Sec. 53. The Philippine Military Academy. - The Armed Forces of the Philippines shall operate 
the Philippine Military Academy that shall provide the formative education for cadets chosen 10 
become career military officers.  
 
Sec. 54. Characteristics of Military Education and Training. - The Armed forces of  


 
 
the Philippines shall maintain a military education and training system that shall: 
 
a) Cater to the career development of military professionals and selected members of the 
reserve; 
b) Ensure access to mainstream technology advances; and 
c) Keep abreast with developments in warfare associated with the operating environments 
peculiar to the major services. 
 
Sec. 55. The National Defense University. - The Department of National Defense shall 
operate the National Defense University which shall provide education for selected career military 
professionals, career executives in the civil service, leaders of the industry, and selected scholars 
from the private sector. The NDU shall maintain a strategic research and special studies institute. 
Civil service regulations may be waived in matters about the faculty and research staff of the NDU 
provided the rules and regulations therefore shall be prescribed by SND. 
 
ARTICLE 19 - Resource Allocation 
 
Sec. 56. Submission of Defense and Security Conditions and Corresponding 
Mobilization Requirements. - The Congress of the Philippines shall, at least once a year, 
require the executive branch to submit a forecast of defense and security conditions and define 
the corresponding mobilization responses which shall constitute a prerequisite process to the 
deliberations on the General Appropriations Act.  
 
Sec. 57. Continuing Appropriations for National Defense and Security Objectives and 
Programs. - Congress shall ensure the accomplishment of national defense and security 
objectives through the enactment of multi-year appropriations. It shall likewise ensure that fidelity 
to the development, modernization, and upgrade programs of the major services is attained 
through the classification of their type commands to key budget item status.  
 
TITLE IV 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
 
ARTICLE XX - Transitory Provisions 
 
Sec. 58. Categorization Military Camps into National Parks. - The Secretary of National 
Defense shall initiate the legislative process required for the categorization of all existing military 
camps and installations, defense reservations, and infrastructure as national parks. The limits and 
boundaries shall be as they were originally intended in their respective legislation or 
proclamations, unless subsequent legislation, amendments thereto, or proclamations have altered 
such limits and boundaries.  
 
Sec. 59. Transfer of Reserve Officers in the Active Service to the Cadre Service of the 
Ready Reserve Force. - The Secretary of National Defense shall, within two years after the 
passage of this law, in conjunction with existing retirement laws, related executive issuances, and 
provisions herein, promulgate a ten-year program of promoting the transfer of reserve officers in 
the active service and enlisted personnel, through optional retirement or other incentives, to the 
cadre service of the ready reserve forces. 
 


 
 
ARTICLE XXI – Separability and Repealing Clauses 
 
Sec. 60. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any provision of this Act is declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force 
and effect.  
 
Sec. 61. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. Provisions of the Administrative Code of 
1987 inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended.  
 
Sec. 62. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its complete 
publication in the Official Gazette or any two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,