Region 8 Army hopes next gov't will continue NTF-ELCAC

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 4, 2022): Region 8 Army hopes next gov't will continue NTF-ELCAC (By Roel Amazona)

SUSTAINING GAINS. Major Gen. Edgardo De Leon, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division. The Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas is hopeful that the next president of the country will continue implementing the development initiative of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to sustain gains in wiping out the insurgency. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Army)

The Philippine Army in Eastern Visayas is hopeful that the next president of the country will continue implementing development initiatives of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to sustain gains in wiping out insurgency.

Major Gen. Edgardo De Leon, commander of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said on Friday the NTF-ELCAC continuation by the next administration means that the Barangay Development Program (BDP) will also continue.

The military official said through the BDP-funded projects, communities will be empowered to reject the ideology of the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

In Eastern Visayas, there are over 200 previously conflict-stricken villages identified as BDP recipients.

The BDP is a flagship program of NTF-ELCAC to address insurgency by bringing sustainable solutions and basic services to communities in need of projects such as farm-to-market roads, water and sanitation systems, health stations, school buildings, electrification, assistance to poor families, and agricultural and livelihood training assistance.

It is directed to the sustainable rehabilitation and development of 822 barangays formerly established as guerilla fronts of the CPP-NPA-NDF.

"We are waiting who among the presidential aspirants will continue the NTF-ELCAC. We encourage voters to examine the stands of these candidates on issues related to insurgency,” De Leon said in an interview.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1169013