National Security Adviser Eduardo Año pledged to bring basic infrastructure to every vulnerable barangay in the country, saying that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) would spare no effort in completing this initiative.
He expressed confidence that Congress would restore the Support for Barangay Development Program (SBDP) budget to P10 million per barangay. This money will be used for basic infrastructure, such as farm-to-market roads, rural electrification, health stations, water and sanitation systems, school buildings, and sustainable livelihood projects in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
"The NTF ELCAC will not stop until all these vulnerable barangays get the basic infrastructure," said Año, the vice chair of the anti-insurgency body.
The SBDP is a flagship program of the NTF-ELCAC that aims to bring development to former conflict-ridden communities.
The program aims to address the root causes of insurgency by promoting development and improving people's lives in conflict-affected areas.
He said the SBDP has successfully implemented various infrastructure projects nationwide, including constructing farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, electrification, and health stations.
According to the updated BDP progress report, as of August 6, 2,451 farm-to-market road projects had been constructed, 1,076 km completed and 27.64 km ongoing.
Of the 461 school building projects, 652 classrooms have been completed and 89 are ongoing.
Of the 1,049 water and sanitation system projects, 890 have been completed, while 128 are ongoing.
Of the 447 health station projects, 389 have been completed, while 53 are ongoing.
Of the 518 rural electrification projects, 15,157 on- and off-grid projects and streetlights have been completed, while three are ongoing.
The report said several other infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects have been completed and are ongoing.
Overall, these projects have a total released budget of P28.39 billion funded under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) - SBDP funds for Fiscal Years (FY) 2021 to 2023.
For FY 2024, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released nearly 99% of the P2.16 billion allocated for 864 beneficiary barangays and 885 projects to the implementing cities/municipalities.
For 2025, the NTF-ELCAC has proposed a P7.8 billion budget for the BDP's implementation.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Marlo Irigan admitted during Thursday's budget hearing of the agency at the House of Representatives that all of the projects for FY 2024 have yet to be implemented.
Iringan said the concerned local government units (LGUs) "are still procuring the projects."
This earned the ire of Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, who called for the anti-insurgency body's defunding due to its chronically slow project implementation.
The DILG oversees the implementation of the BDP, as LGUs that receive funds for these projects are under its jurisdiction.
NPA' permit to campaign' to wane
Año, meanwhile, said the New People's Army's (NPA) "permit to campaign" scam would no longer be an issue in the 2025 midterm elections after its force has been reduced to five weakened guerilla fronts.
Aside from the NPA, he said, the security sector – the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) – and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should be wary of the elections in areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
"Our concern for the next election is the BARMM. We might be putting more troops into BARMM areas to ensure that because this is their first BARMM parliamentary election. There are still some stability problems," he said.
Año said the NPA, the armed component of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), has been decimated in all its politico-military spectrum capabilities.
From a high of 89 in 2018, its guerilla fronts are down to seven this first semester, and two are set to be declared eliminated soon.
With this update, Año said, the government is on the verge of closing the violent and bloody chapter of the CPP-NPA in Philippine history within the year or next year.
He said election security problems are more "political violence between traditional political families and political goons."
"In 2019 and 2022, when I was the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) secretary, we issued an order for all mayors and all candidates that those who will provide money or materials to the CPP-NPA will be automatically charged. Cases will be filed before the Ombudsman. So, medyo maraming natakot na mayor noon, mga candidates. I think a lot of candidates got intimidated by our warning. Those things sometimes work," he recalled.
Año said many candidates won without succumbing to the NPA's extortion strategies, such as the "permit to campaign" or "permit to win." (PNA)
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