Prominent business groups are urging the government to scrutinize industrial operations close to sensitive areas, such as military sites, stressing that national security plays an integral role in economic stability.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, June 25, the groups called for a comprehensive review of government regulations, safety standards, and oversight mechanisms for business operations near strategic locations.

They added that, based on verified findings, this review should be supported by an assessment of whether broader product or infrastructure risks require further action.

“We remind all stakeholders that economic progress cannot exist without public safety, the rule of law, and institutional integrity,” the groups said.

The statement was signed by the Management Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Philippine Industries, the Philippine Iron and Steel Institute, the Institute of Corporate Directors, and the Global AI Council PH.

This call for scrutiny comes in response to last month’s raid on a steel manufacturing facility within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, which is located near the site of a future naval dockyard.

The business groups said the government operation at the Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp. facility raised serious concerns regarding compliance with Philippine laws, including worker protections. They emphasized that operating “illicitly adjacent” to a Navy dry dock currently under construction blatantly violates the country’s territorial security.

Further, the groups noted that the alleged use of hazardous materials in the company’s operations poses potential environmental, occupational, and public health risks.

“Concerns have also been raised regarding the quality and safety of certain steel products, which should be assessed and determined by the appropriate technical and regulatory bodies based on verified evidence,” they added.

Against this backdrop, the business groups said facts must always be pursued objectively, with appropriate action taken wherever violations are established by competent authorities and courts.

“There must be no undue interference, and all actions should remain guided by evidence, due process, and the public interest,” the statement read.

At the same time, the groups urged Congress to consider reforms regarding national security, public safety, hazardous materials management, labor protection, and regulatory oversight to address legislative gaps.

“We stand firmly by our defense and law enforcement agencies in protecting the Filipino people, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring that accountability is pursued through fair, transparent, and evidence-based processes,” they said.