THE National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) said it has completed 74 percent of the 1,254 projects programmed for last year under its Barangay Development Program (BDP).
The BDP is a flagship project of the task force which is chaired by the President. Since its inception in 2021, over 4,000 projects have been implemented.
In a statement Wednesday, the NTF-ELCAC said the completed projects include 100 school buildings, 44 of which are in the Eastern Visayas region.
Also completed are 511 farm-to-market roads, 99 water and sanitation systems, 91 health stations, and 127 rural electrification projects, ELCAC said.
Still in various stage of implementation, as of October 9, are 323 projects.
According to NTF-ELCAC data, P6.33 billion has been allocated for the implementation of the 1,254 BDP projects programmed for last year.
NTF-ELCAC said the BDP “aims to improve the quality of life in communities affected by local communist armed conflict by delivering essential services and socio-economic development projects.”
“This approach is designed to reduce local support for insurgents and foster stability in these areas,” it added.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, also vice chairman of the NTF-ELCAC, commended concerted efforts to implement the BDP projects which he said are meant to bring meaningful change to conflict-affected areas.
“The significant strides made by implementing the BDP through electrification, infrastructure, health services, and livelihood programs ensure that essential services reach our most vulnerable communities,” he said.
“The transformation of these areas is a crucial step toward achieving long-lasting peace and development, as they are being exploited as a source of recruits against the government,” he added.
NTF-ELCAC executive director Ernesto Torres said the BDP has “bridged development gaps in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas which have historically been exploited by communist violent extremism.”
There are 885 BDP projects programmed for this year with funding of P2.5 million each.
So far, only nine of these projects have been completed. The nine are composed of two farm-to-market roads, one health station, and six rural electrification projects.
