NTF-ELCAC: 224 of 1,253 barangay projects in 2023 completed so far

Only 224 of the 1,253 barangay development projects in 2023 have been completed so far, according to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on Wednesday.

The NTF-ELCAC said 581 are still ongoing while 448 are in various stages of procurement.

“Out of the total 224 completed projects, 137 are farm-to-market roads, 11 are water and sanitation systems, 11 are school buildings, eight are health stations and 57 are rural electrifications,” the agency said.

Of the total allocation of P6.329 billion, P 1.810 billion or 28.6 % had been obligated while P515.193 million or 8.16% had been disbursed.

After the visit of UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan from late January to early February, she recommended, among others, the abolition of the NTF-ELCAC. Khan called the task force “outdated” as she stressed that it “does not take into account the ongoing prospects for peace negotiations.”

The NTF-ELCAC rejected the recommendation, saying that the task force will eventually transition to a peace and development entity.

Even with the transition, NTF-ELCAC media bureau’s Joel Sy Egco said the barangay projects will continue.

“Tuloy-tuloy iyan kahit ano pong mangyari because unang-una itong flagship project natin na ito ay talaga ang pride and glory ng NTF-ELCAC, ang Barangay Development Program,” he said.

(The Barangay Development Program will continue no matter what happens because this is the flagship project, this is really the pride and glory of NTF-ELCAC.)

For 2021, a total of 2,110 of the 2,320 projects have been done so far under the same program. For 2022, 1,644 of 1,719 projects have also been completed.—RF, GMA Integrated news