Solon questions P1.6-B allocation for Davao City of NTF-ELCAC’s budget

Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand Gaite on Sunday called out the allocation of the anti-insurgency task force’s budget for Davao City, expressing doubts the area is infiltrated by armed communist  rebels.

In a statement, Bayan Muna said the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has an allocation of P16.4 billion for the Barangay Development Program (BDP).

Citing Department of Budget and Management's Local Budget Circular No. 135, Bayan Muna said Davao Region will receive P4.3 billion, with Davao City getting almost 40% at P1.64 billion.

“What’s the basis of this large allocation for Davao City? Was it the heartland of the communist insurgency? It’s hard to believe that there were communist guerillas in the 82 barangays chosen by the NTF-ELCAC,” Gaite said.

“It seems the Duterte camp has started oiling its electoral campaign machinery through the Generals’ pork barrel lodged in the NTF-ELCAC, and of course their bailiwick Davao, both city and region, gets the lion’s share,” he added.

GMA News Online asked NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Southern Luzon Commander Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. about the issue, but he has not made a reply as of posting time.

In the mean time, Bayan Muna has already sought for the reallocation of the funds to the COVID-19 pandemic response during the House budget deliberations in 2020.

“Bayan Muna will seek a special audit of these funds in due time. These are very large sums of money that we cannot afford to waste on potentially partisan political spending,” Gaite said. —LBG, GMA News