By Francis Wakefield
The Department of National Defense (DND) conducted its first ever seminar-workshop to capacitate its officers and staff in standardizing the Department’s policy formulation and drafting of proposed legislative measures on October 16-17 at the Honor Hall of the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) Building in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The two-day seminar-workshop, spearheaded by the Office of the Undersecretary for Defense Policy (OUSDP), also equipped the participants with the necessary knowledge, skills, and mindset to strengthen the strategies in pursuing the DND’s legislative agenda, which includes the National Defense Act of 2018, the Philippine Defense Industry Development Act of 2018, Anti-Terrorism Act, Reinstatement of Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Act, and the Special Economic Defense Zone Authority Act, which are the key pieces of legislation being advanced by the DND in the Philippine Congress to strengthen the country’s national defense capabilities and improve its national security.
In his opening remarks, Undersecretary for Defense Policy Ricardo A. David Jr., highlighted the need for the DND and its bureaus to “harmonize” legislative efforts and align them with existing policies.
“This year, we are including policy formulation and development in order to come up with standard procedures within the Department and its Bureaus,” David said, referring to the DND Proper and the DND’s five bureaus namely: the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Government Arsenal, Office of Civil Defense, National Defense College of the Philippines and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office.
“Beginning this year, we will be annually conducting seminar to monitor and assess the progress of our respective offices’ policy development,” David added.
Among the resource speakers who imparted knowledge and expertise to the participants were Atty. Renato Camelon III, Supervising Legislative Officer of Reference and Research Bureau - House of Representatives; Director Gilbert E. Lumantao, CFG-Policy Research Office of the Development Academy of the Philippines; Director Irving Fajardo, Chief, Administrative Services of the Department of National Defense; Major Noreen Calaoagan PA of the Office of the Adjutant General, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); and Brigadier General Jess G. Estoesta AFP of the AFP Office of the Legislative Affairs.
“We need to assess what we are doing in these policies… kaya tayo gumagawa ng bill, gumagawa ng policy, in order to align ourselves dun sa mga strategy that were provided by different departments,” David said.
“Dapat sama-sama tayo. We must be in one direction. We must review policies. That’s why, this is very important to us,” he added.