Nancy Binay sees need to revisit NTF-ELCAC

(FILE PHOTO) Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. Photo by (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — There may be a need to revisit the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), citing the controversial statements of its spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr., and projects that may be similar to those being implemented by other government agencies, Senator Nancy Binay said Friday.

“Siguro isa rin ‘yun sa mga dapat irevisit because I think ‘yung statements coming from its spokesperson kumbaga nakakasira doon sa image ng NTF-ELCAC,” Binay said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if she thinks the task force should be abolished.

(Maybe that is one of the things that should be revisited because I think the statements coming from the spokesperson also tarnishes the image of the NTF-ELCAC.)

“The intention of that agency is good kasi ‘yung intent naman nyan is to bring back (the) budget to communities na talagang disadvantaged. There is really a need to give them more, pero siguro baka this is not the proper body that is supposed to implement these types of projects,” she added.

(The intention of that agency is good because its intent is to bring back the budget to disadvantaged communities. There is really a need to give them more, but maybe this is not the proper body that is supposed to implement these types of projects.)

Binay pointed out that some of the projects included in the task force’s budget, such as building farm-to-market roads and school buildings, may be similar to the projects of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Education.

She said she also raised this issue during the budget deliberations for 2021.

“During the budget deliberations I raised this issue because ang fear ko nga is baka magdoble ‘yung trabaho,” said Binay. “And another issue is yung capability ng barangay to handle P20 million funds, so isang issue din ‘yun na niraise natin.”

(During budget deliberations I raised this issue because our fear is the work may be doubled… And another issue is the capability of barangays to handle P20 million funds.)

Binay made this remark after she and five other senators saw the need to withdraw funding for NTF-ELCAC and reallocate its current P19-billion budget to fund assistance to people affected by the pandemic, amid controversies hounding the task force over the recent red-tagging of community pantries.

However, Parlade said that it would be “stupid” and “unfair” for senators to defund the task force’s budget.

/MUF