AFP-US Forces Break Ground on Evacuation-Ready Facility in Davao del Norte as Balikatan 2026 Prep Intensifies

Armed Forces of the Philippines and US military personnel broke ground on April 7, 2026, on a new evacuation-ready multi-purpose facility in Barangay Tibulao, Carmen, Davao del Norte — one of the pre-Balikatan construction activities in advance of the exercise starting approximately April 20. The facility is designed for noncombatant evacuation operations (NEO) and disaster response scenarios that are part of Balikatan 2026's expanded exercise portfolio. The groundbreaking was among the most visible of 500+ bilateral military activities approved under 2026 alliance planning guidance — the highest count in US-Philippines alliance history. Balikatan 2026, billed as the largest in history with approximately 16,000+ US, Philippine, Japanese, Australian, Canadian, and French troops, will also include cyber defense, space operations, and live-fire exercises. The exercise is expected to feature NMESIS anti-ship missile deployments at Batanes Islands, providing coverage of the Luzon Strait between Luzon and Taiwan.