The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP), has formalized a partnership with the National Security Council (NSC) to initiate an assessment of national security threats within the country’s construction projects.

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday, Feb. 21, with NSC Director General Eduardo Año. The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) was also present as a witness.

The agreement aims to establish a collaborative framework to ensure that construction projects in the country undergo a thorough inspection to prevent potential national security threats.

“By working together, we ensure that infrastructure development not only fuels economic growth but also safeguards the welfare of every Filipino,” said Roque in a statement.

“In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) agenda, this initiative embodies our collective vision for a modern, vibrant, and secure nation,” she added.

While the DTI is not part of the composition of the NSC, the agency and the council have frequently collaborated to enforce the Strategic Trade Management Act.

Enacted in 2015 under Republic Act (RA) No. 10697, the law fulfills a legally binding obligation under the United Nations (UN) Security Council, which is to enforce stringent measures to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons—simply put, the so-called weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Under the Strategic Trade Management Office (STMO), the DTI and the NSC also contribute to promoting economic growth by facilitating trade and investment of strategic goods.

The NSC serves as an advisory body to the President on matters concerning national security and foreign policy.

Año noted that this new partnership with the agency is part of PCAB’s proactive efforts to address national security concerns within the construction industry.

“The NSC fully welcomes the initiative of PCAB, which recognizes the possible national security implications of its regulatory duties, and has reached out to us to jointly tackle this growing concern,” he said.

PCAB, an implementing board in CIAP, is tasked with licensing contractors for public and private construction projects.

Año said the MOA is a crucial step toward strengthening and advancing the country’s national security.