Statement of National Security Adviser and Director-General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on PRRD visit to Region IV-A
President Rodrigo Duterte, who is also Chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), shall resume his visits to the different regions to fast track the development of conflict-affected and geographically isolated barangays. On Oct. 21, 2021, the President shall be visiting Region IV-A to put emphasis on the development programs being implemented in support of counter-insurgency operations in the region. The Presidential visits were put on hold recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This event will be participated in by various local chief executives, spearheaded by event host, Quezon Province governor Danilo E. Suarez. Joining the President are Cabinet Members and other high-level officials from national government agencies, senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, and various officials from the NTF-ELCAC and member-agencies of the Regional Task Force-ELCAC. Members of Congress will likewise be in attendance. Beneficiaries of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) will be represented by their Barangay Chairpersons.
As a former mayor himself, President Duterte is intimately familiar with the dynamics and management of local government units. He is particularly heartened by the landmark Supreme Court Ruling which specifies the adjusted share of local government units, also known as Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). The IRA will now be computed based on all national taxes, resulting in the substantial increase of the LGU’s IRA. This translates to expanded development projects and programs available to our countrymen in all levels of the local government, as the IRAs are programmed to increase by about 45% starting 2022.
A strong proponent of local government development, President Duterte had pushed for several development initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation and rural progress. To address the root causes and issues being exploited by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) for its recruitment, he had directed the government to enhance its support for socio-economic programs which include free tertiary education, free irrigation, universal healthcare, and the improved Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Further, his Build Build Build Program, which is the government’s nationwide infrastructure program, has paved the way for accelerating the development of industries and job creation, leading to a strengthened investment climate and inclusive growth. These national development programs for bolstering community-based approaches are the cornerstones of President Duterte’s legacy of inclusive and bottom-up approach in attaining our country’s progress.
As the Vice-Chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, it is my honor to convey to the public that the President has emphasized that the key to ending the local communist armed conflict lies in addressing the root causes which entice disgruntled communities into communist terrorism. Through the Barangay Development Program (BDP), a flagship program of the Duterte Administration, the President enacts his vision that progressive communities arise from a peaceful and stable environment. The BDP is the manifestation of our continuous partnership with the LGUs; wherein the NTF-ELCAC facilitates the fast-tracking of local development projects identified by the local chief executives themselves.
On matters relating to peace and security, I am proud to note that as of Oct. 4, 2021, only three Guerilla Fronts remain standing in Region IV-A, two of which have already been considerably weakened by our security forces. Communities from Guerilla Front areas, which have been dismantled previously, now constitute the first batch of 822 barangay recipients of the BDP. These cleared barangays will be receiving a package of development programs worth P20-M per barangay, consisting of five core projects- farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, livelihood programs, and health stations. Other national government agencies shall be providing additional programs to augment the BDP as necessary.
Particular to Region IV-A, a total of seventy two (72) projects will be implemented under the BDP in thirty (30) barangays cleared of the threat and influence of the communist terrorist group. In response to the swift release of funds for the implementation of the BDP, a total of thirty-five (35) local government units in Region IV-A have issued their resolutions or statements of support for the 2021 implementation of the BDP. Similarly, forty-nine (49) local government units have issued their resolutions or statements of support for the 2022 implementation of the BDP. For 2022, a total of thirty-one (31) barangays in Region IV-A are to receive the BDP package in the region. A total of 1,406 barangays nationwide will receive the BDP funds of P20-M each in 2022. By working with local government officials and executives, our partnership effects an inclusive environment for peace and development at the local level.
On behalf of the Local Chief Executives, the NTF-ELCAC expresses gratitude to the President for his commitment to provide for the needs identified by our community leaders in their pursuit for growth. The NTF-ELCAC strives to ensure that no community is left behind in the pursuit towards a progressive Philippines. The BDP is our commitment to Filipinos, notably those in conflict-affected barangays, that they are first and foremost in our development agenda.
