Esperon defends anew P1.6-B fund for Davao City from NTF-ELCAC

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. once again defended the inclusion of Davao City in the Barangay Development Program (BDP) of the anti-insurgency council with an allocation of P1.6 billion.

In making his point for Davao City's inclusion in the BDP, Esperon cited  economic activities, size of landmass, rural areas, and the presence of armed rebel groups in Davao Region that is supposedly threatening the city.

“The fact remains that there are numerous isolated and remote barangays within the city. Hence, with the large land area of Davao City, there still is a need for development and infrastructure  for its growth,” Esperon said in a statement on Sunday.

According to Esperon, at least nine regional committees of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) are operating in the Davao Region.

“The SMRC (South Mindanao Regional Committee) comprises five sub-units, known as Guerilla Fronts, threatening Davao City,” he added.

“Of particular concern to our security forces is that within Davao City is an existing armed guerilla unit, the Pulang Baga Command (PBC), which has weakened  after  barangays therein have been cleared of CPP-NPA influence,” he said. 

Further, Esperon said, the influence of the guerilla fronts leads to poverty, isolation, disease, hunger, and lack of educational and livelihood opportunities in the concerned areas.

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

Bayan Muna said the NTF-ELCAC has an allocation of P16.4 billion for the 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% of it with the P1.64-billion allocation.

“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,” Gaite added.

In November 2020, members of the House Makabayan Bloc also questioned the allocation for several barangays in Davao City, the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Bur Esperon insisted that the priority areas allotted with barangay development funds in Davao City were carefully scrutinized. —LBG, GMA News