Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) is set to expand its support to barangay development program to more villages in Central Luzon this year.
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Regional Director Maria Luisa De Guzman said this is a way of incentivizing barangays that are out of the umbrella of communist terrorist groups (CTGs) by infusing the much-needed economic development in these areas.
“Hopefully, this will set an example to other barangays to withdraw support to the CTGs. As part of the incentives they get, we bring the government to them, and identify the programs they need like farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure projects, electrification, and livelihood projects, among others,” she said.
De Guzman added that this is the second phase after conducting focused military operations that drives out the armed component, as there is a need to ensure socio-economic development in the area.
Under the program, the identified barangay is granted P20 million to implement projects that will bring comfort to its residents.
On top of that, different government agencies also converge to bring livelihood aid and other services to the identified village.
“For so long, people in these areas feel that the government do not support them because they are brainwashed by the ideology of the left leaning groups. Through this, we want them to feel the presence of the government and give them hope for a better future,” De Guzman said.
For 2021, only barangay San Mateo in Norzagaray, Bulacan qualified for the program.
Projects for implementation in the barangay include concreting of farm-to-market road, construction of health stations, sitio electrification, and distribution of livestock for breeding and fertilizer and seedlings.
With this, Punong Barangay Florencio Abiol expressed utmost gratitude and excitement for the upcoming progress in their barangay.
“We are very happy to learn that we were one of the barangays to benefit from this program of the RTF-ELCAC and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Our constituents will surely benefit from this. To us, this is more than just bringing assistance to our community but renewing our hope to the government and for our people,” Abiol said.
DILG will regularly monitor the projects in the area to ensure the proper implementation and to maximize its benefits to the communities.
For 2022, 87 barangays are targeted under the program nationwide and the approved funding is P4 million per barangay or P5.624 billion in total. (PIA 3)
