Marcos increases NTF-ELCAC's budget from P2.5M to P7.5M per barangay —NSC

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered an increase in the Barangay Development Fund under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) from P2.5 million to P7.5 million per barangay, the National Security Council (NSC) said on Monday.

NSC Assistant Director-General Jonathan Malaya said that a total of P4.32 billion additional budget will benefit 864 barangays who are recipients of NTF-ELCAC’s Barangay Development Program for this year.

“The President was not happy with the original P2.5M per barangay in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) so he ordered the Department of Budget and Management to allocate the additional funds for this year. He said that P2.5M will hardly make an impact in terms of development so he ordered the augmentation,” Malaya said in a statement.

According to Malaya, the amount comes from unprogrammed funds of the National Treasury.

The NSC official said Marcos expressed support to increase the funds more to P10 million per barangay in the 2025 budget, which is now under deliberation in the Senate.

“The President noted that the [National Expenditure Program] allocated P10M per barangay for the next batch of recipient barangays next year and he hopes Congress will ensure that the final version of the 2025 GAA reflects this amount,” Malaya said.

Meanwhile, Malaya said Marcos approved the rehabilitation of the Batong-Buhay – Colayo Road in Pasil, Kalinga, which will use funds from the PAMANA program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU).

Marcos also approved the creation of the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development under the NTF-ELCAC to pursue a national peace framework.

“Under Unity, the government will advocate for positive peace and for programs to denounce violent extremism. Under peace and security, LGUs will take lead in peacebuilding to ensure that the CPP-NPA-NDF will be unable to operate, infiltrate or influence any area of the country,” the NSC said.

"Under socio- economic development, the Barangay Development Program will be continued in collaboration with LGUs. Once implemented, the end result are conflict- resilient and empowered communities nationwide,” it added. —KG, GMA Integrated News