NTF-ELCAC, vital legacy of Duterte admin

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 18, 2022): NTF-ELCAC, vital legacy of Duterte admin (By Zorayda Tecson)

BARANGAYNIHAN CARAVAN. The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and other government agencies hold the ‘Duterte Legacy: Bayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery’ in San Fernando City, Pampanga on Monday (April 18, 2022). The event aims to inform the public of the achievements of the Duterte administration as well as to deliver basic services to the public. (Photo courtesy of NCIP-Region 3)

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) which addresses the decades-long problem brought about by the communist terrorist groups is an important legacy of the Duterte administration that needs to be continued by the next administration.

During the Duterte Legacy: Barangaynihan Caravan Towards National Recovery at Camp Olivas here on Monday, organizers and participants of the program expressed hope that the successor of President Rodrigo Duterte will sustain the gains of the NTF-ELCAC.

Maria Luisa De Guzman, regional director of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), said the NTF-ELCAC, since its creation in 2018, has so far achieved in raising awareness and in providing the people with the truth about the communist terrorist groups and their front organizations.

“The unprecedented gains made by the NTF-ELCAC, particularly in raising awareness on the problems against communist terrorist groups, through the intensified information campaign and to bring about development in areas that once been under the cudgels of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is an important legacy of President Duterte. The effects of which will be felt by generations to come,” de Guzman said.

Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay, regional director of the Police Regional Office 3, said the fight against insurgency has gained a lot of ground.

“Napakalayo na ng ating narating sa ating laban sa mga communist terrorist groups at ito ay nasa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng NTF-ELCAC na nasimulan sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte. Sa halos anim na taon ay nalansag na ng pwersa ng ating pamahalaan ang mga guerrilla fronts sa buong bansa. Kasabay na rin nito ang ating pagsisikap ang maputol ang kanilang suporta na nanggagaling sa white areas na kung saan ang whole of nation approach na nasaad sa directive ng NTF-ELCAC (Our fight against communist terrorist groups has gained ground and this is under the supervision of the NTF-ELCAC which was started under the administration of President Duterte. Within almost six years, guerrilla fronts have been dismantled by our government forces in the entire country. This is in consonance with our efforts to cut their support from the white areas through the whole of nation approach under the NTF-ELCAC directive),” Baccay said.

Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, meanwhile, assured that the government services being offered by the Duterte administration will continue until June 30 this year.

He expressed hope that those reforms and programs initiated by President Duterte will be continued by the next successor.

“Sana, hindi ito mahinto sa June 30 at magtuloy-tuloy ito hanggang sa susunod na administration. Ang lahat ng mga magaganda proyekto at program ay tuloy-tuloy (Hopefully, this will not stop on June 30 and continue by the next administration. Hopefully, all the good projects and programs will continue),” Malaya said.

The Duterte Legacy: Barangayanihan Caravan Towards National Recovery is a national event that aims to cascade to the people the project, programs, and accomplishments of the Duterte administration and how they directly benefited the Filipino people.

The event likewise included a one-stop-shop of government services.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1172379