The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to prioritize the completion of unfinished projects under the Tatag ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) program which are critical to ensure the welfare and operational readiness of military personnel.

AFP Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said that while many TIKAS projects have already been completed and are now benefiting troops across the country, several remain unfinished and must be expedited to fully serve their intended purpose.

“We are appealing to DPWH na sana po ay tapusin nila ‘yung TIKAS projects na hindi pa natapos dahil napakahalaga ng mga proyekto na ito. Hindi lamang po ito sa pag-administer natin ng affairs ng Armed Forces but ito ay mga barracks, ito ay mga training facilities na talagang kailangan na kailangan po natin (We are appealing to the DPWH to please complete the TIKAS projects that remain unfinished because these projects are very important. These are not only for the administration of the Armed Forces’ affairs, but also include barracks and training facilities that we urgently need),” he told reporters in an interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Friday, Oct. 10.

TIKAS program is a joint undertaking by the DPWH and the Department of National Defense (DND) meant to build and improve military facilities using DPWH funds and management.

However, during a recent Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the DND’s proposed 2026 budget, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian flagged multiple TIKAS projects that remain unfinished years after their allocation.

Brawner emphasized that TIKAS projects directly affect troop morale and the efficiency of military operations, particularly in remote and conflict-prone areas.

He, however, explained that the AFP only serves as the end-user or recipient of the facilities while the DPWH implements and funds the construction.

The budget for each project is often divided by phases, depending on available funds released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Brawner said.

“Some of these are large-scale projects that were divided into phases: Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 so that the funding would also correspond to each phase. For example, if it’s a 10-storey building, Phase 1 would cover only the first three floors. That’s the portion funded first. The Department of Budget and Management releases the funds to the Department of Public Works and Highways and no funds are given directly to the Armed Forces,” Brawner said.

He confirmed that the AFP has a list of unfinished military facilities that will be submitted to the Senate for review.

“We have a list of projects that remain unfinished and we will submit it to the Senate for their reference,” he said.

He also expressed support for the Senate proposal to transfer the TIKAS program’s implementation from the DPWH to the DND, saying it would allow the AFP to better ensure transparency, quality, and timely completion.

“I am in favor of that so that we can ensure there will be no ghost projects and that these projects will be of truly high quality. Our AFP engineers from the Army, Navy, or Air Force can undertake these constructions. And if our engineers in the Armed Forces are unable to do so, we will make sure that the contractors who will handle the projects are competent and that the implementation is done properly,” Brawner added.

Recalling his experience as 4th Infantry Division (4ID) commander, Brawner noted that strict supervision and transparency led to the successful completion of a hospital extension project at Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City.

“When I was 4th Infantry Division commander, we closely monitored the construction of our hospital extension. Because of that, it was completed properly and now serves our troops well,” he said.

In a separate statement, the AFP denied circulating rumors about the existence of P15 billion worth of military “ghost” infrastructure projects from 2023 to 2025 linked to TIKAS program.

The AFP said such claims were “completely false, irresponsible, and clearly intended to discredit the AFP and its leadership.”

“For the record, there are no ‘ghost projects’ in the AFP,” the statement read.

The AFP stressed that labeling a “completed phase” of a project as a “ghost project” “is a gross misrepresentation of how government infrastructure budgeting works,” since large projects are often funded and built in stages.

“Reckless and unfounded allegations not only harm reputations but also erode trust in institutions whose men and women risk their lives daily to defend and protect our nation,” the military said.