CPT ALFREDO G BALLERA JR PN(M)

433 words

DWP No. 1
Philippines
By: Department of National Defense

INTRODUCTION
The Department of National Defense (DND) has always been relied upon
to “guard [the country] against external and internal threats to national peace and
security, promote the welfare of soldiers and veterans, and provide support for
social and economic development”, a mandate under EO 292, s-1987. It shall also be
maintained to maximize its effectiveness for performing its mandate, a policy declaration
under EO 112, s-1999. It must be clear to everyone therefore, that DND pursues these
two major thrusts in meeting the evolving defense and security challenges.
While DND is given the tasks to perform, it is also directed to maintain its
level of effectiveness to the maximum. While DND is ordered to perform these specific
tasks, it is implied that DND should continually transform as an organization in the 21st
century.

BODY
To provide the Filipino people the exceptional service they truly deserve,
DND is pursuing several defense mission areas translated from the foregoing statement
of mandate. As should be expected however, the level of capability of any organization,
like DND, declines as it performs its different mission areas. DND defended themselves
saying that this decline in the level of its capability is not solely due to the normal fair
wear and tear but is exacerbated by the additional exposure to the effects of combat,
calamities, and disasters, both natural and human-induced. If left un-acted upon, this
would potentially bring the capability of the defense department to a level that is “Not
Mission Capable”.
 On the contrary, two programs were initiated aimed at providing the
defense establishment in general and the AFP in particular, of various capabilities
needed to perform its mission. First, the institutionalizing and sustaining the reforms
under the PDR program and second, is the AFP Modernization.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has a long standing bilateral arrangement with
the US on mutual defense matters. Likewise, a Defense Cooperation Program exists
between the Philippines and Australia and is also a member of the ASEAN countries.

CONCLUSION
A great portion of the manpower requirements in the AFP is provided by
the enlisted personnel. The importance of having a reform initiative focused on the
empowerment of personnel, specifically the AFP enlisted personnel, has been
recognized at the onset of PDR Program implementation. Pursuing specific
interventions to commence and manage the Philippine Defense Transformation
Program should be a budgetary line item under the DND Proper. This should be
reflected as a follow-on program to the Philippine Defense Reform.
References

Department of National Defense, “Philippines”, July 2012