Esperon says NTF-ELCAC funds directly being released to LGUs

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Friday clarified that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) does not hold the funds for the barangay development program.

“The funds will be released directly to the provincial and city governments,” Esperon told GMA News Online.

“NTF-ELCAC coordinated the Barangay Development Program.  It does not hold the funds as these are released to the provinces/city,” he added.

Several lawmakers have been suggesting to defund and realign the P19-billion fund of the NTF-ELCAC under the 2021 national budget, prompted by the task forces' supposed red-tagging of community pantry organizers.

For 2021, the NTF-ELCAC was allocated with a P19 billion budget, of which P16.4 billion will go to its Barangay Development Program.

Esperon said P20 million worth of development funds will be provided for each of the 822 former guerilla bases of the New People’s Army, or for geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

According to Esperon, the barangay development projects under the the P20-million fund for each area include:

• farm to market road worth P12 million
• classrooms - P3 million
• health centers - P1.5 million
• water systems and sanitation - P2 million
• rural electrification and  livelihood projects - P1.5 million

Esperon added that different agencies can also bring in other projects to the target 822 barangays, which he said are all specified and named.

GMA News Online is still waiting for Esperson's reply on the question about the P2.6 million left from the P19-billion fund under the 2021 budget of the task force.

On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he will ask the chamber’s leadership to compel the NTF-ELCAC to submit its quarterly report on its fund. —LBG, GMA News