Makabayan lawmaker wants a reduced budget for NTF-Elcac

Raoul Manuel —HOR PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker is seeking to reduce the proposed budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) for next year due to its unfinished projects and slow use of funds, specifically under the Barangay Development Program (BDP).

The BDP is one of the main initiatives under the NTF-Elcac for this year. The program “intends to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities,” the NTF-Elcac’s website reads.

READ: Makabayan lawmakers on NTF-Elcac’s unfinished projects: Realign funds

During the plenary discussions on the 2025 national budget, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo disclosed that so far 962 projects of the task force are under pre-procurement, 173 are under procurement, and 20 are ongoing.

A previous budget hearing of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) likewise revealed that zero initiatives under the BDP were accomplished as of August 2024.

“Now kaya nag wo-wonder ako kung nasa ganung stage pa lang yung pag-gamit ng pondo posible na matatapos yan lahat di lang next year hanggang 2026 pa. Noong nag-allot ng pondo for the barangay development program nung 2021 naabot niya yung 90 plus percent ng pag-gamit ng pondo three years after pa,” Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said.

(I’m wondering if the use of funds is still at that stage, it’s possible that it will all be finished by 2026. When the task force allocated funds for the barangay development program in 2021, it reached 90 plus percent of the fund utilization three years later.)

“Ang isusulong ko na rin, dapat talaga hindi na nga muna pondohan din for 2025 itong barangay development program,” he added.

(I am pushing to remove the fund for the barangay development program in 2025.)

For 2025, the task force is requesting a budget of P7.8 billion, which is almost four times higher than the P2.1 billion fund for this year.

Earlier, Manuel and Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas recommended the realignment of NTF-Elcac funds to other national agencies related to education, health, and other social services.

READ: Kabataan party list: NTF-Elcac wasting taxpayers’ money

At that time, Brosas opposed the increased budget allocation for the NTF-Elcac, adding that the budget was reportedly used to pressure, monitor, and harass progressive groups and individuals.

She also reiterated United Nations special rapporteur Irene Khan’s recommendation to abolish the task force.