President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to visit Calapan today to personally oversee the progress of the projects under the Barangay Development Fund (BDP), the flagship program of the administration.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said the President’s second visit to Region 4-B or MIMAROPA, formally known as the Southwestern Tagalog Region, will highlight the turnover of several programs and projects to the beneficiaries, including the rebels.
President Duterte is the NTF-ELCAC chairman.
Several barangays from Region 4-B are the latest inclusion in the BDP after the national government has successfully addressed the peace and security issues and the dismantling of guerilla fronts.
Esperon disclosed that only one guerilla front of the CPP-NPA-NDF Terrorist Triad remains in MIMAROPA.
Esperon added that from 2016 to 2021, the region has seen the surrender of 455 former rebels who are now being assisted by government agencies in their transition into peaceful and productive lives.
“Region 4-B’s peace and security is effectively managed through the joint efforts of security forces and civilian agencies in the region.
Through the combined efforts of the Regional Development Council (RDC), supported by numerous line agencies of the national government, the region has had a thriving economic development,” Esperon said.
Under the BDP, communities, which were formerly under the guerilla fronts, will be given P20 million worth of projects including farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water sanitation, health centers and even livelihood and assistance to indigents.
For MIMAROPA, there 109 projects being implemented in 25 barangays this year. And for next year, additional 54 barangays will be
benefitting from the BDP.
“Through the BDP, we are no witnessing the concrete changes and improvements that our. Communities have longed for. The BDP is our commitment not just to those affected by the atrocities of the communist terrorist group; it is also our commitment to the Filipino people for our collective aspiration and pursuit for lasting peace and sustainable development,” Esperon added.
Joining the President in his visit in Calapan City are Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor and Calapan City Mayor Arnan Panaligan; Cabinet Members; officers of the NTF-ELCAC, Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The NTF-ELCAC continues to appeal to the Congress to retain the budget proposal of the agency, amounting to P28.1 billion.
Esperon reiterated that the P16.44 billion total fund of the BDP were utilized, monitored and disseminated by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with transparency.
In the Senate, the NTF-ELCAC budget was trimmed down from the proposed P28 billion to just P4 billion allegedly due to failure of the agency to provide Congress with detailed reports on the utilization of the P16 billion budget for this year.
For this year, the P16.44 billion has benefitted 822 barangays in 39 provinces or covering 2,029 infrastructure projects. Esperon said of the 2,318 BDP projects, 26 have already been completed while 582 are currently ongoing. The 1,047 are on the procurement stage and 663 are on pre-procurement stage.
For 2022, the proposal of the NTF-ELCAC is to provide BDP to 1,406 barangays.
