By Pearl Gumapos
National Security Adviser (NSA) Sec. Hermogenes Esperon on Wednesday (Dec. 1) said that the budget cut for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will affect ongoing projects under the Barangay Development Program.
According to the most recent report of the NSA, out of 2,318 projects, 794 are now ongoing implementation.
The budget cut from P28 billion to P4 billion will leave barangays with a budget of P2.5 million instead of P20 million.
“Mawawala na iyong farm-to-market road na siyang pinaka-importante siguro. Mawawala na rin iyong classrooms. Mawawala na rin iyong livelihood projects dahil ito dapat ay P20 million bawat barangay,” Esperon said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
“Ngayon, kung aalisan natin sila ng budget from P20 million to P2.5 million na lang, hindi sapat upang maalis iyong mga problema doon sa barangay na siyang naging dahilan kung bakit maraming na-recruit sa kanila na sumanib sa New People’s Army. Kaya ang katumbas nito, iyong pagbawas nila ay parang plaster lang. Napakalalim ng sugat pero nilalagyan lang natin ng maliit na plaster,” he added.
Esperon said the budget cut might contribute to the increase of insurgency, saying that members of the New People’s Army (NPA) might be encouraged to return to barangays and recruit new members once again.
“Kaya ang mangyayari niyan ay babalikan sila ng NPA at sasabihin na ‘Nakita ninyo, pangako ng pangako sa inyo ang gobyerno. Pinag[pa]gawa pa kayo ng programa. Sinabing ibibigay sa inyo ngunit ngayon ay hindi naman nila maibigay.’”
“We can never end this insurgency kapag panay militar ang solusyon nito. Dapat socio-economic, political,” Esperon added.
Esperon said President Duterte himself put the budget for each barangay at P20 million because, according to him, the problem of insurgency cannot be solved without taking care of the barangays and without the help of barangay captains.
He added that the P28 billion budget does not belong to the NTF-ELCAC. It belongs and is directly transferred to the Barangay Development Program.
“Tandaan natin na iyong P28 billion ay hindi pondo ng NTF-ELCAC iyan. Iyan ay pondo ng Barangay Development Program. Diretso iyan na napupunta sa barangay. Direct ang application niyan,” he said.
“Kaya huwag nilang sasabihin na pork barrel iyan kasi hindi naman natin pinili iyong mga barangay. Iyong mga barangay na pupuntahan niyan ay iyong mga dating guerilla bases na natanggalan natin ng NPA,” he added. – bny
