NSA Año pledges to complete infra projects in underserved barangays

August 15, 2024

National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año has vowed to bring basic infrastructure to every vulnerable barangay in the country, stating that the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) will not stop until the task is complete.

During a dinner dialogue with media executives at Seda Vertis North in Quezon City on Tuesday, Año expressed confidence that Congress will restore the Support for Barangay Development Program (SBDP) budget to P10 million per barangay, which will be used for basic infrastructure like 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).

"And the NTF ELCAC will not stop until all these vulnerable barangays get the basic infrastructure," he stressed.

The SBDP is a flagship program of the NTF-ELCAC aimed at bringing development to former conflict-ridden communities. The program aims to address the root causes of insurgency by promoting development and improving the lives of people in conflict-affected areas.

The program has been successful in implementing various infrastructure projects across the country, including the construction of 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, 2024, a total of 2,451 Farm-to-Market Roads projects have been constructed, totaling 1,076 kilometers completed and 27.64 kilometers ongoing.

Of the total 461 School Building projects, 652 Classrooms have been completed and 89 are ongoing. Of the total 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 total 518 Rural Electrification projects, 15,157 (on-grid, streetlights, off-grid) have been completed while three others are ongoing.

Several other infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects have also been completed and are ongoing, the report said. All in all, these projects have a total released budget of Php 28.393 Billion funded under the LGSF-SBDP funds for FY 2021-2023.

For BDP FY 2024, nearly 99% of the Php 2.160 Billion allocated for 864 beneficiary barangays and 885 projects has been released (SARO and NCA) by the DBM/BTr to the implementing cities/municipalities.

During the 1st semester presentation of accomplishment reports from the agency's different clusters and regional task forces, Año expressed pride and gratitude for the progress made, emphasizing the positive changes happening in the communities.

"I am beyond proud and grateful to witness how our collective visions – once seemingly insurmountable – are little by little realized, especially seeing the much sought transformations now happening among our fellow citizens and their communities," he stressed.

Año acknowledged that NPA terrorists have been disrupting peace and prosperity in communities with their ideologies and propaganda, hindering efforts to achieve inclusive and widespread peace.

"These hindrances have reminded us time and again, and no matter how difficult and long our fight drags on, to carry the spirit of unit and cooperation – which in the past couple of years allowed us to turn the tide against these adversaries. We have pushed ourselves forward, stronger and more capable of achieving what was once overwhelming to do," Año added.

The task force has already submitted its national expenditure program (NEP) for 2025 and is ready to defend its proposed P10-million-per-barangay budget before Congress.

Project Management Office (PMO) Assistant Director Rene Valera from the DILG’s Office of Project Development Services (OPDS) earlier emphasized that the SBDP budget goes directly to the municipal treasury that hosts and implements the barangay projects, not NTF-ELCAC or the DILG.

Valera stated during the presentation that the "SBDP is simply called good governance," explaining that it has been instrumental in closing development gaps in GIDAs, areas that have long been vulnerable to communist influence and violence.

With the recent development in the reduction of the number of "weakened" guerilla fronts (GF) of the NPA, Secretary Año believes that authorities can shift focus to creating more projects through the BDP and other initiatives, bringing the benefits of development to even more communities.

This shift represents a strategic move towards a future where all Filipinos have access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive, regardless of their location. ###

NTF-ELCAC MEDIA BUREAU

Ref: Joel M. Sy Egco

09155506969

August 15, 2024