Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday said her leadership of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification, and Reconciliation will prioritize linking climate action with security reforms and strengthening the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) humanitarian role.

Legarda, the first woman to chair the consolidated defense committee, said the security sector must expand its mandate beyond arms and deterrence to address climate and disaster risks that threaten communities.

“Defense is about securing lives, livelihoods, and our future. We must build a force that protects and empowers,” she said.

The four-term senator earlier authored a book framing the AFP as a humanitarian actor, introducing an “AFP Resilience Scorecard and Toolkit” that measures disaster readiness and community protection.

She also pushed for resilience audits of AFP facilities to ensure climate and disaster preparedness.

“Security goes beyond arms; it is about trust, preparedness, and shared responsibility,” Legarda said, adding that defense institutions must adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. (PNA)