Explain this: DOST part of anti-communist task force

Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — This one might really take rocket science to explain.

The head of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) on Thursday told lawmakers that it was now part of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac), a body dating back to the previous administration and long criticized for “red-tagging” perceived supporters of the leftist insurgency.

However, Science Secretary Renato Solidum admitted in a public hearing that “In reality, it’s not really very clear to me” what the DOST is supposed to contribute to the task force.

Speaking at a House committee deliberations on the proposed DOST budget for 2025, Solidum said it was “likely” the agency was “tapped” to help communities prioritized by the task force for disaster management, environmental protection, health and nutrition, and education.

“We do have projects, whether they’re here or there; whatever (the beneficiaries’) beliefs are, we assist them,” he said in answer to questions from Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel.

“We have various programs, especially community empowerment through science and technology. So I think they needed us to look into how we could help further improve those communities we were already serving,” Solidum added.

Letter from Año

The DOST, he said, received a letter late last year from the NTF-Elcac chair, national security adviser Eduardo Año, that it would now become part of the task force.

But Solidum said he had yet to attend any of its meetings.

“So it was not the DOST that volunteered to be part of the task force?” Manuel asked. “Is it more that the DOST was tapped?”

“The letter was sent to me asking if we could be a member,” Solidum replied.

Manuel raised the matter after Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chair Prospero de Vera III last week also confirmed that his agency had also been included in the task force to help it “disseminate information in universities and colleges.”

According to the party-list youth representative, the NTF-Elcac did not publicize the amendments to Executive Order No. 70  issued during the Duterte administration to create the task force.

“So what is happening is that it appears that the selection of which agencies will be part of the task force is arbitrary or highly discretionary,” Manuel said.

Calls for ‘defunding’

He and the other Makabayan bloc members — ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas have long been calling for NTF-Elcac’s “defunding.”

Its budget, they said, should instead be realigned to “genuine” social welfare programs or those not tied to what they called the “militarization” of communities rife with poverty and social injustice.

Aside from the DOST and CHEd, the Department of Migrant Workers was among the last agencies to be included in the task force.