July 14, 2024

A total of 16,551 former members and supporters of the New People’s Army (NPA) who abandoned the terror organization from liberated conflict-affected areas have been beneficiaries of various sustainable livelihood projects under the government’s comprehensive reintegration program, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) revealed in its first semester report of this year.

The beneficiaries are from different GeographIcally Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) comprises of 6,945 recipients of livelihood projects and 9,606 former rebels who benefitted from reintegration assistance.

National Security Adviser (NSA) and concurrent NTF-ELCAC co-vice chair Secretary Eduardo Año said the accomplishments could not have been achieved without the aggressive implementation of the government’s “whole-of-nation/whole-of-government” approach aimed to put an end to decades-long armed struggle.

“Through the unimpeded provision of the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP), which in total has assisted 864 barangays in this year alone, we have relentlessly delivered the necessary skills and development and assistance programs to conflict-affected communities,” Año said.

According to NTF-ELCAC Executive Director and Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr., the SBDP has been a potent “game-changer” in preventing the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA from efforts of recovering their so-called “mass bases”.

“Despite this year’s meager budget for our SBDP we continue to reap gains, and these peace gains we have to sustain as we are on the process of transitioning to the next level after totally eliminating the armed component of the CPP-NPA, which would be focused on unity, peace and development,” he said.

This year, SBDP fund allocation is only P2.160 billion for 885 projects. Of the amount, P1.292b (59.89%) has been released by the Budget department to fund farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, rural electrification, health stations, among others.

Torres said they are aiming for Congress to approve and restore the P10-million per barangay for next year’s budget.

In the latest report from member agency Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the SBDP tangibles since its implementation in 2021 include 2,451 Farm-to-Market Roads projects totaling 1,050 kilometers completed and 57.54 kilometers are on-going; out of the total 461 School Building projects, 623 Classrooms had been completed and 120 school buildings are on-going; out of the total 1,049 Water and Sanitation System projects, 846 had been completed while 203 are on-going; out of the 447 Health Station projects, 366 had been completed while 81 are on-going; out of the total 518 Rural Electrification projects, 14,457 (on-grid -749, streetlights - 9,355, off-grid - 4,353) had been completed while 271 others are on-going (127 pre-procurement, 144 on-going). Several other infra and non-infra projects had been completed and on-going status.

The DILG reported that the budget department had already released P28.393b under the Local Government Support Fund-SBDP for fiscal year 2021-2023.

The top 5 regions that benefited from SBDP projects completion are the following: for 2021, Region XI got 546 and followed by Reg. XIII with 349; Reg. X - 291; Reg. VI - 231; and Reg. XII - 197.

For 2022, Reg. V got 341; Reg. VIII - 266; Reg. X - 167; Reg. XI - 125; and Reg. XII - 104.

And for the year 2023, also the top 5 SBDP beneficiaries are Reg. VIII - 126; Reg. V - 191; Reg. III - 92; Reg. IV-A - 43; and Reg. VI - 26.

“Along this line, continued barangay dialogues this year have also strengthened communications and engagement with local communities, making our constituents feel that they are being heard and consulted on the various local issues they face. Such effort is supported by the training of barangay officials,” Año said, referring to the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP).

Complementing the mainstreaming of former NPA rebels is the declaration of 9 more additional areas as Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) in conflict-affected communities.

“This, in turn, will lead to a more stable and sustainable economy especially now as the Marcos Jr. administration is working double time to accelerate our development post-pandemic,” he said.

“We can say that we are now at the crossroads of securing a new chapter for our country – one which is not only free and far from the influence and violence of the CTGs (communist terrorist groups) – but a future where communities can now find themselves peacefully thriving,” Año added. NTF-ELCAC MEDIA BUREAU

Ref: Joel M. Sy Egco

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