Title
Reorganization of the Department of National Defense
Law
Administrative Order No. 167
Decision Date
Dec 31, 2006
Administrative Order No. 167 reorganizes the Department of National Defense in the Philippines, establishing specific roles and responsibilities for Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries, nullifying the appointment of armed forces members as office chiefs, and establishing a transparent procurement process through the DND Bids and Awards Committee.
national defense
defense reform
national security
A

Organizational Structure and Historical Undersecretaries

  • Three (3) Undersecretaries originally created under various laws: Munitions (RA 1884), National Defense (EO 292), Civil Relations (PD 876, amended by PD 1895)
  • Subsequent changes replaced Undersecretary for Munitions with Undersecretary for Veterans and Reserve Affairs in 1992
  • Number and titles of Assistant Secretaries and Office Chiefs varied through time and administrative orders

Executive and Service Staff Composition According to EO 292

  • Executive Staff consists of:
    1. Staff for Plans and Programs
    2. Staff for Installation and Logistics
    3. Staff for Public Affairs
    4. Staff for Strategic Assessment
    5. Staff for Comptrollership
    6. Staff for Personnel
    7. Legal Service
  • Service Staff consists of:
    1. Administrative Services
    2. Information Management Staff
  • Personal Staff as determined by the Secretary
  • Prohibition on active armed forces members holding civilian posts

Changes and Reorganizations Prior to AO 167 (Dec 31, 2006)

  • Transition of two Assistant Secretary positions to Office Chiefs (Legal and Strategic Assessment)
  • Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs became Office Chief for Legislative Affairs
  • Variation in number of Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and Office Chiefs from 2003 to 2006
  • Compliance with General Appropriations Act (GAA) limiting appointments to authorized plantilla positions

Reorganization Under Administrative Order No. 167 (December 31, 2006)

  • Reduced number of Undersecretaries to three (3): Defense Affairs; Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs; Legal Affairs and Special Concerns
  • Additional Undersecretaries (such as Internal Affairs and Armed Forces Modernization Affairs) to be seconded Presidential Assistants
  • Appointments specified for each Undersecretary and their respective functions

Executive Staff and Office Chiefs Appointment and Structure

  • Five (5) Assistant Secretaries appointed to head executive staffs:
    1. Plans and Programs
    2. Installation and Logistics
    3. Strategic Assessment
    4. Comptrollership (handles financial matters)
    5. Personnel
  • Four (4) Directors appointed to head Executive Staff for Public and Legislative Affairs, Legal Service, Administrative Services Office, and Information Management Office
  • Office Chiefs for Public and Legislative Affairs and Legal Service to be assessed for promotion

Roles and Responsibilities of Undersecretaries

  • Defense Affairs: Assist Secretary and Commander-in-Chief on AFP affairs; supervise Government Arsenal, National Defense College, and selected staffs
  • Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs: Supervise veterans’ offices, medical centers, civil defense, disaster councils, retirement benefits, and public/legislative affairs
  • Legal Affairs and Special Concerns: Supervise Legal Service
  • Internal Affairs: Oversee Comptrollership, Personnel, Administrative Services, and Information Management Offices
  • Armed Forces Modernization Affairs: Implement modernization law and reform; supervise DND Bids and Awards Committee

DND Bids and Awards Committee Composition

  • Regular Members: Chairman (Assistant Secretary Roberto Nuqui), Vice Chairman (Assistant Director Gladys Cagadoc), Members including Brigadier General Jerry Jalandoni
  • Provisional Members: Lt. General Antonio Romero (modernization procurement), and end user service representative
  • Observers: Undersecretaries, Department of Finance, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, NGO representative

Additional Provisions

  • Internal Audit unit placed under Personal Staff of the Secretary
  • Nullification of appointments/designations of active armed forces members as Office Chiefs
  • Appointment of Assistant Directors without rank or pay reduction
  • Assignment of Lt. Col. Leoel Santos to assist Defense Intelligence akin to Defense Attache
  • Amendments to previous Administrative Order (AO 165) to conform with new structure

Compliance with Legal Framework and Constitutional Authority

  • Reorganization effected under the President’s constitutional and legal powers
  • Aligns departmental structure with existing laws and budgetary provisions
  • Promotes efficiency, clarity of roles, and proper chain of command within the DND

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