Camp Aguinaldo, QC – The Department of National Defense celebrates its 78th founding anniversary today, November 6, with the theme “One Defense Team @78: Embracing the Change with a more Credible Defense”.
The DND was formally created through Executive Order No.230 by then President Manuel L. Quezon on November 1, 1939, to implement Commonwealth Act No.1 or the National Defense Act of 1935.
It has five (5) bureaus under it, namely: The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), The National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP), and the Government Arsenal (GA).
Before the main event, the DND organized various activities to make its 78th Anniversary celebration more meaningful.
A bloodletting activity was held at the PVAO covered court on October 18. Several bags of blood were collected during the event which afterwards donated to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) and the AFP Medical Center (AFPMC) for the benefit of soldiers, veterans and their dependents.
On October 26, the DND also held a tree-planting activity at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. It was in line with the DND’s advocacy for sustainable development and preservation of the environment.
In order to promote a healthier and friendlier work environment, a fun run was also held on November 3 at Camp Aguinaldo, which was participated in by the agency’s officials as well as military and civilian employees.
Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana will be the guest of honor and speaker on the November 6 main Anniversary event. Other government officials, former secretaries of national defense, and other invited guests are expected attend the event. (DND-PR)
