The Department of National Defense (DND) is in need of a larger budget to strengthen its capabilities.&nbsp;
With the new Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro at the helm, he will be requesting Congress to increase the allocation of funds, particularly for capital outlay.
"We cannot continue to have a Department of National Defense without a capital outlay for our own department. We need to build up the capabilities of this department as part of the national defense family," said the Secretary.&nbsp;
According to Teodoro, this move will help develop program management and advance the careers of employees, as well as enhance analytics, contracting, and international relations within the DND.
He pointed out that the current office size and the number of DND employees, which is around 400, are insufficient considering the millions of stakeholders involved.
Meanwhile, concerning the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Teodoro assures that the acquisition of equipment or assets will be cost-effective and sustainable.
In 2023, the DND holds the largest budget among government agencies, amounting to nearly P235 billion, as it takes the lead in national defense.

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Teodoro seeks increased budget to strengthen defense capabilities