Senator Loren Legarda has made history as the first woman to chair the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation.
Her appointment was formalized during the Senate plenary session on September 8.
“This role is about securing lives, livelihoods, and our future. We must build a force that protects and empowers,” Legarda said after her designation.
A four-term senator with an extensive track record in national security, Legarda holds a master’s degree in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines, where she graduated at the top of her class. She also completed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Command and General Staff Course, later earning the rank of colonel (reserve) in the Philippine Air Force.
Legarda has authored several measures linking climate change to national security, including her book The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the Humanitarian Space: Building Resilience, Fostering Resilient Communities. She introduced tools such as the AFP Resilience Scorecard and Toolkit to measure the military’s readiness for disaster and humanitarian response.
Among her key legislative initiatives is Senate Bill No. 833, which seeks to establish the Philippine Defense University System (PDUS). The measure would unify existing defense and security schools under one institution to enhance education, efficiency, and preparedness.
“With the PDUS, we can build a new generation of national security leaders who are ready not only for today’s problems, but also for the challenges of the future,” Legarda said.
Legarda has also been vocal on maritime security, pushing for stronger enforcement of the 2016 Hague ruling, increased presence of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Kalayaan Islands, and the protection of fisherfolk and marine ecosystems in the West Philippine Sea.
She has likewise championed the welfare of uniformed personnel, backing proposals to institutionalize salary increases, improve housing and equipment support, and provide scholarships and aid to families of fallen officers.
“Security goes beyond arms; it is about trust, preparedness, and shared responsibility,” she stressed.
The Senate defense panel, which now encompasses peace and reconciliation functions, was formed after the merger of two separate committees in the 18th Congress. Before that, then-Senator Jamby Madrigal chaired the Committee on Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation in the 14th Congress.
