Tesda chief: P160-M transfer to NTF-ELCAC earmarked for ex-terrorists’ livelihood programs

TESDA logo from its website.

MANILA, Philippines — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) chief on Tuesday said the funds transferred to the regional offices for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) went to livelihood programs for former members of terrorist groups.

TESDA is under investigation after the Commission on Audit (COA) demanded that it provide a legal basis for why P160 million from its funds had been transferred to its regional offices in support of the NTF-ELCAC.

“As far as I know, the P160 million in question was spent for various scholarship and livelihood programs for former members of the communist terrorist groups who decided to return to the government’s fold, residents in various geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities including Indigenous Peoples in far-flung areas of the country,” said Tesda Director General Sec. Isdiro Lapeña in a statement.

“This fund in question was used in order for them to live a normal life again,” he added.

Lapeña said that he has already directed concerned Tesda offices to collate all the documents on this report in order “to properly respond to the matter.”

He also said that Tesda has existing protocols that ensure proper and lawful disbursement of funds, adding that the agency submitted all the documents to COA to support its disbursements.

“Nevertheless, we are currently coordinating with COA in order to resolve this issue,” said Lapeña.

“We will release a detailed report on this matter as soon as possible,” he added.

COA earlier warned that fund transfers made by Tesda to regional offices for Executive Order No. 70 are questionable due to lack of authority, adding that if legal authority is not provided, the case may be a “ground for technical malversation of public funds.”