The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has warned that the expansion of a military airstrip in Balabac under the Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (Tikas) program could put local communities at risk, saying it turns civilian areas into potential wartime targets.
Pamalakaya raised the concern as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. expressed support for transferring the implementation of the Tikas program from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the Department of National Defense (DND), or directly to the AFP.
The group said about ₱3 billion has been allocated this year for infrastructure supporting national security, including the expansion of the Balabac airstrip—one of the sites covered by the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States.
“We cannot accept that the government will spend money on the construction of a facility that is part of a foreign military base using public funds,” Pamalakaya national chairperson Fernando Hicap said.
“Such projects endanger the civilian population by turning communities near US military access points into potential wartime targets,” he added.
Hicap also suggested that instead of diverting public funds to military facilities, the government should prioritize agriculture and fisheries to “strengthen local food production and uplift the standard of living in rural areas.”
The Tikas program, a joint initiative of the DND and DPWH, finances the construction of military facilities such as barracks, training centers, hospitals, and headquarters nationwide.
Brawner defended the proposed transfer, saying it would ensure better oversight and faster completion of projects.
“If the funds are transferred to us, we can make sure the projects are of high quality and properly implemented,” he said.
The Balabac airstrip is one of several EDCA sites in Palawan, which plays a key role in the Philippines’ defense operations in the West Philippine Sea.
