Manila: As the country celebrates the yuletide season, Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. announced that the DND and all its attached agencies and bureaus will be on alert for the holidays. "This holiday season, your DND and its attached agencies will continue to perform their duties to help ensure that you can enjoy the season safely," he added in a statement.

According to Philippines News Agency, some of the attached agencies of the DND include the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Office of the Civil Defense, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, the Government Arsenal, and the National Defense College of the Philippines. Teodoro emphasized that they will continue to be alert against all threats, whether natural or man-made.

While the country is celebrating the yuletide season, the DND chief seized the opportunity to call for public support as the organization undergoes a vital transformation, making it more capable of fulfilling its mandate. "We hope and pray for your support in order to ensure that our organization is transformed into a modern, adaptive, and capable organization in all facets essential to exercising its mandate," he said.

Teodoro also expressed his thanks to defense and military personnel who have given their all to keep others safe. He assured the families of these individuals that they will be looked after, as they do for all veterans. "We pray for the victims of this year's calamities, both here and abroad, and resolve to work harder in order to help prevent the same from recurring. We wish all a blessed holiday season," Teodoro concluded.