Lacson: No way can NTF-ELCAC abuse funds for NPA-cleared barangays

By Mario Casayuran / Manila Bulletin

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson does not see the P16.4 billion allocation being abused by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

Some P9.699 billion of the P16.4 billion allocation has been released so far for the development of barangays that have been cleared of the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Lacson gave this assurance to fellow lawmakers who are asking to defund NTF-ELCAC, even as he stressed the amount would eventually be released to the local government units (LGUs) that would implement the development projects.

“Being the sponsor of the NTF-ELCAC’s 2021 budget, it is my obligation and responsibility to defend the Department of Budget and Management’s release of funds which will be implemented not by the NTF-ELCAC but by the local government units concerned,” he said.

Lacson chairs the Senate’s Committee on National Defense and Security. He sponsored the budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) and its attached agencies for 2021.

Thus, programs, activities and projects (PAPs) worth P1 million or less will be implemented by the barangay; those worth more than P1 million but not more than P10 million by the city or municipality; and those worth more than P10 million by the province.