Palace backs use of NTF-ELCAC fund for typhoon victims

He pointed out that since some villages in the Bicol Region are affected by insurgency, part of the NTF-ELCAC’s funds may be used to help Filipinos recover from the calamity.(File: Photo courtesy of Guinobatan Municipal Police Station via PNA)

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday expressed support to a senator’s proposal to realign a portion of the PHP16.4-billion anti-insurgency fund to relief and rehabilitation efforts for communities affected by Super Typhoon Rolly.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque explained that it was the mandate of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to promote the development of areas “with ongoing insurgencies”.

“I think that is the objective of ELCAC. The objective of the ELCAC is to promote development in areas with ongoing insurgencies because we know that poverty is the root cause of insurgency,” he said in an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source.

Roque said he did not see “any inconsistency” with the proposal to realign a portion of NTF-ELCAC funds to typhoon-hit areas.

“I don’t think there is any inconsistency with the proposal to actually spend funds in the typhoon damaged areas,” he added.

He pointed out that since some villages in the Bicol Region are affected by insurgency, part of the NTF-ELCAC’s funds may be used to help Filipinos recover from the calamity.

“I think, a fact that Bicol also is a hot bed for insurgency, so that would be within the mandate of ELCAC,” he said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday said a portion of the NTF-ELCAC’s funds may be used to help Filipinos battered by the typhoon get back on their feet.

She pointed out that the budget for NTF-ELCAC is “questionably astronomic” compared to the proposed budgets of other key agencies.

The NTF-ELCAC has been allocated a proposed budget of PHP19-billion for 2021. Of this amount, PHP16.4-billion has been earmarked for its Barangay Development Program.

Last September, Roque defended the proposed PHP16.4 billion allocation as “valid expenditure” for the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

He said the Executive department has the duty to submit annual budget proposals.

National Security Adviser and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF ELCAC) vice-chair Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. also dismissed allegations that the funding for its Barangay Development Program for 2021 is “pork barrel” as claimed by the Makabayan bloc of the House of Representatives.

Under the NTF ELCAC’s Barangay Development Program, the funds will be used in constructing various infrastructure projects like farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, health stations, and forest cover protection programs.