Kabataan Partylist Representative, Raoul Manuel insisted on defunding the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and realigning its allocated budget to national agencies, as its 885 projects remain unfinished.
In a budget briefing by the Committee on Appropriations on Thursday, the allocated budget for the NTF-ELCAC was questioned by lawmakers, as their projects continue to be delayed.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Marlo Iringan, said that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) had just released funds for the NTF-ELCAC projects. He added that the local government units are still in the process of procuring the said projects.
Partylist Rep. Manuel emphasized the lapses and slow progress of the funded projects under the Barangay Development Program (BDP).
“Ngayon ay August na. Meron tayong four whole months na lang na natitira for the whole year. This is not the first time na ganito kabagal ang pag gamit ng pondo for NTF-ELCAC. In fact noong 2021, kinailangan pang umabot ng June of this year para umabot sa 96 percent iyong kanilang obligation rate,” Partylist Rep. Manuel said.
(It’s already August, so we only have four months left for the year. This is not the first time NTF-ELCAC has shown a slow use of its funds. In fact, in 2021, they had to extend until June of this year to reach 96 percent of their obligation rate)
Despite all that, NTF-ELCAC still wants to increase the budget for the BDP. Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, its allocated budget is P2.5 million per qualified barangay. However, in 2025, they are seeking to increase it to P7.8 billion. Manuel highlighted that its slow progress would lead to its completion by 2027, a delay in its initial plan.
“I strongly insist na i-defund na natin itong NTF-ELCAC, including its Barangay Development Program for 2025. I-realign na ‘yan directly sa national agencies na working on education, health, and other social services,” he added.
(I strongly insist that we defund the NTF-ELCAC, including its Barangay Development Program for 2025. Realign it instead to national agencies working on education, health, and other social services)
NTF-ELCAC’s main goal is to bring sustainable development programs, focused on addressing the needs and concerns, of those living within Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).
