The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has yet to finish any of its 885 barangay development projects funded this year, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), an opposition congressman charged.
During a budget hearing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday, August 14, DILG Undersecretary Marlo Iringan explained that the funds for these projects were only recently disbursed by the Department of Budget and Management.
Iringan's comments followed an inquiry from Representative Raoul Manuel of the Kabataan Partylist regarding the current status of NTF-ELCAC’s flagship program aimed at supporting impoverished barangays.
Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, the barangay development program was allocated P2.6 billion, or P2.5 million per eligible barangay.
For 2025, the government has proposed increasing this allocation to PHP 7.8 billion.
Manuel criticized the delays, suggesting they could justify the defunding of the task force, a move long advocated by the Makabayan bloc.
He noted that in August, with only four months left in the year, the slow pace of fund utilization was problematic.
“It took nearly two years for the 2021 program budget to achieve a 96% obligation rate. Given the current pace, how much of this year’s funds will be utilized, and by when? Will we even see progress by 2027?” Manuel questioned.
He argued that continued funding for NTF-ELCAC and its barangay programs is unacceptable, given the issues raised in previous budget discussions.
Manuel called for reallocating these funds to national agencies focused on education, health, and other essential services.
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