Balara Airfield

Urban encroachment and campus expansion. The airfield was located on the grounds of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. As Quezon City grew into a major urban center and the university expanded its facilities, the land became too valuable to be used as an airstrip. Increasing population density made a centrally located airfield a significant safety hazard, leading to its closure and redevelopment.

The site of the former airfield has been completely redeveloped and is unrecognizable as an aviation facility. The land is now occupied by a mix of academic, residential, and commercial structures. Key developments on or near the former airstrip include the UP Town Center (a large shopping mall developed by Ayala Malls), the UP Integrated School, various university buildings, and major thoroughfares like C.P. Garcia Avenue.

The airfield was more commonly known as the 'UP Diliman Airstrip'. It was a grass or unpaved runway that served the general aviation community in the post-WWII era. Its primary function was as a base for the UP Flying Club and other civilian pilots for training and recreational flying. It played a role in fostering interest in civil aviation in the Philippines and was a unique feature of the university campus culture during its operational years. Operations were limited to small, single-engine propeller aircraft.

None. The area is now a densely populated, high-value urban district in the heart of Quezon City. The land is fully occupied by permanent infrastructure, including a major commercial center, educational facilities, and roads. Reopening an airfield at this location is physically, economically, and logistically impossible.