Lawmakers eye realigning NTF-ELCAC budget

MANILA, Philippines — For red-tagging community pantries, a key leader of the House of Representatives has hinted about “realigning” the P16.4 billion that Congress allotted this year for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“The bulk of NTF-ELCAC funds can be rechanneled to giving more direct financial aid to the unemployed workers displaced by the pandemic, upgrading our contact tracing abilities or providing more hospital beds,” Deputy Speaker Mikee Romero said over the weekend.

“No one should get away with red-tagging and unlawful profiling,” Romero added.

The 1Pacman party-list representative has proposed a House inquiry on the matter as early as next week even before Congress resumes session on May 17.

“We want NTF-ELCAC officials to give details as to where and how the funds are being used, and how their vilification tactics translate to having more communist rebels turning their backs on insurgency,” he said.

“Should the NTF-ELCAC fail to substantiate their claims and justify their use of funds, Congress may realign its budget to more urgent needs,” he added. “Some may also go to upgrading the capabilities of our (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the Philippine Coast Guard to guard our maritime borders.”

The president of the 54-member Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. joined his House colleagues in condemning NTF-ELCAC’s pronouncements, and called for an “immediate congressional investigation” into how the agency is using its fund in the 2021 budget.

“The rampant unlawful profiling and obvious red-tagging of organizers of community pantries by officials of the NTF-ELCAC are simply too wicked to be ignored by the members of this august chamber,” Romero said.

Meanwhile, local governments have been urged to follow the example set by Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, both of whom have forbidden barangay as well as police officials from interfering with the activities of community pantries.

Both Moreno and Sotto have also said community pantries in their jurisdictions need not apply for permits.

Due to the pandemic, some 4.2 million Filipinos have lost their jobs while another 7.9 million have suffered pay cuts at work, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The number of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger hit a record 21.1 percent for the whole of 2020, according to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations.

Barangay dev’t program

In a related development, the NTF-ELCAC said P9.66 billion worth of its projects have been approved under its Barangay Development Program (BDP).

The NTF-ELCAC said the BDP package of 483 barangays was approved and that the multibillion-peso budget ready for release to provincial and city governments.

“Note that these will not be released in cash, but in the form of projects earlier described, to the local governments of the identified barangay recipients,” NTF-ELCAC chairman and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon said.

Esperon added that a total of 525 barangays have already endorsed their respective programs while the rest are in process in accordance with the guidelines set by the Department of Budget and Management.

A total of 822 barangays deemed cleared from the influence of the New People’s Army are covered by the P16.9-billion BDP budget.

Esperon said he recognizes the concern of lawmakers and the public over the utilization of the BDP funds, but gave assurance that there are proper transparency and accountability mechanisms in place.

“Allow me to reassure the public that the package of programs under the BDP are released following the stringent evaluation of the government agencies concerned,” he added.

The NTF-ELCAC again had recently come under fire following the controversial statements of its two spokespersons linking community pantries sprouting in the country to communists.

Esperon imposed a gag order on Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade and Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy from speaking further about the community pantries.

“Yes, I did, if only to emphasize that the NTF-ELCAC or Gen. Parlade or Usec Badoy are not against bayanihan or community pantries,” Esperon said.

“Lest it be misunderstood, they will desist making comments on community pantries and the NTF-ELCAC will support, observe and assist community pantries as does the whole of government,” he added. – Romina Cabrera