Gatchalian calls out DPWH over unfinished military infrastructure projects
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has vowed to transfer the P3-billion allocation for a military infrastructure program to the Department of National Defense (DND) from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), citing low completion rates and projects tagged as finished that turned out to be incomplete.
Gatchalian said this would also ensure that the projects would fit the program’s objective. The Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (Tikas) program is part of the joint efforts of the DND and the DPWH to bolster the defense and security capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
During the budget hearing on Tuesday on the DND’s P295-billion proposed budget for 2026, the Senate finance committee chair pointed to several unfinished DPWH projects under the Tikas program.
These included two multipurpose buildings for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Pasay City, valued at P72 million and P51 million, respectively. Both had been tagged completed but were found to be unfinished.
Two other PAF projects, valued at P60 million and P17 million, respectively, also lack complete funding.
“For 2026, we will transfer the P3 billion to the DND. What’s important is to finish and to ensure that our soldiers benefit from every peso of the funds,” Gatchalian said.
“The buildings are being put to waste, they are standing but are not being used. It would be better if the DND itself would implement the projects because they themselves know what their needs are,” he added.
No validation
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro reported that out of 944 approved Tikas projects since 2019, only 648 have been completed, with several left unfinished or unusable.
He said the DND has supervisory authority and vowed that “we will not allow these things to happen anymore.”
According to Teodoro, there was no validation whether or not the standing structures could be used.
“That’s why the remedy is to meticulously check these projects. We will also report these to the committee. We already have the inventory that we’re willing to submit,” he said.
Teodoro added that they would also talk to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to discuss the possible filing of appropriate cases against people behind such projects.
“These structures were essential but these were not part of the core infrastructure-based development program … These do not fall in line anymore with our strategic basing and operational security requirements … and henceforth, these will not be pursued anymore, yet recovery must be done,” he said.
