Outgoing National Security adviser Hermogenes Esperon has assured the continued support for the Barangay Development Program (BDP) during the next administration.
In an interview with the Davaao media, Esperon raised high hopes that President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr would hold true his earlier released statement to “expand the NTF-ELCAC, that means more support for the barangays”.
Created through Executive Order No. 70 by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the NTF ELCAC or the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has come up with the Barangay Development Program (BDP) through which barangays “cleared” of insurgency influence are granted substantial funding for development projects identified in a consultation, by the barangay residents.
“We hope that President Marcos dahil sabi nya susuportahan pa rin nya ang NTF ELCAC, ay ganun din ang mangyayari lalo na ngayon na ‘yon palang farm-to-market road na component at livelihood, ay connected na connected sa agrikultura, na kinuha ng ating Pangulo ngayon na in-coming,” he said in a media interview at the Eastern Mindanao Command (EMC) Headquarters in Panacan, Davao City.
Esperon revealed that cleared barangays which were supposed to get only P4 million funding support for year 2022, would equally be given P20 million same with the BDP beneficiaries during the initial year of BDP implementation in 2021.
“From 20 million ay naging (PhP) 4 million,” he said. “Pumasa na sana sa House of Representative pero may gustong mag-tapyas sa Senado. Ang excuse nila ay kailangan sa ibang projects. Okay. Pero ang ginawa ng ating Pangulong Duterte ay ibinalik ang (PhP) 16 million sa bagong National Expenditure Program. 4 +16, 20 parin,” he explained.
Esperon and incoming Secretary of National Defense, retired general Jose Faustino Jr attended the Eastern Mindanao Command presentation of its accomplishment and its accomplishment for NTF ELCAC.
They were briefed on the neutralization of high value individuals, dismantling of guerilla fronts operating in Eastern Mindanao, and on the declaration of Davao Region provinces as insurgency-free. Davao del Norte was part of the briefing being the first province in Davao Region to have been declared as insurgency-free.
Aside from the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division and EMC high-ranking military officials, Davao del Norte Edwin I. Jubahib was there to welcome Esperon and Faustino. (PIA XI/Jeanevive Duron Abangan)
