Manila, Feb. 24 -- The Senate on Tuesday began deliberations on measures aimed at strengthening and modernizing the country's defense institutions to address evolving security threats.

During the public hearing of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, Senator Loren Legarda said reforms must ensure that the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are equipped to respond to emerging challenges, including cyber intrusions, disinformation operations and gray-zone tactics.

"We need a Department of National Defense that can respond to the future, with the professional civilian capability, legal authority, and funding tools to do its job well. We...