DOST confirms NTF-ELCAC membership

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) confirmed during the agency’s budget hearing on Thursday, September 5, that they became a member agency of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). 

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the NTF-ELCAC invited them late last year for the purpose of improving specific communities. No specific date was mentioned with regard to their membership. 

"We were invited late last year. I haven't been able to attend any of those meetings yet,” Solidum said in Filipino.

This was revealed after Kabataan Party List Rep. Raoul Manuel questioned when the agency became a member. He also asked DOST if the agency volunteered to join the task force, to which Solidum replied they were “tapped” after a letter was sent to him. 

Although the reasons for the task force’s invitation were “not really very clear” to him, Solidum explained that the agency is there to support everyone regardless of their belief.  

"I said that we have projects for everyone, whether they’re here or there. Whatever their beliefs are, we assist them. This is done through various programs, especially community empowerment through science and tech,” Solidum said in a mixed of English and Filipino.

DOST is one of the government agencies that has not been a member of the task force since its creation in 2018 under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) 70.

In August, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) also revealed during their agency’s budget hearing that they have joined the task force. 

Manuel reminded the body that the NTF-ELCAC has not disclosed or provided any amendments to EO 70, which specifies the government agencies mandated to be part of the task force.

Minority lawmakers have consistently campaigned for the realignment of the NTF-ELCAC’s budget to education and social welfare programs. 

Even two United National special rapporteurs, who are independent human rights experts, have recommended the abolition of NTF-ELCAC.

The government’s anti-insurgency task force has been notorious for its red-tagging practices that put the safety of the administration’s critics — such as media workers, activists and rights members — at risk.