DELA ROSA SUPPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR INSURGENT-CLEARED BARANGAYS

Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa underscored the importance of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) 2021 funds in the government's continuing efforts to resolve the decades-long armed conflict in some parts of the country.

In his manifestation during the Senate budget hearing on Monday, Dela Rosa declared that it is important to allot enough budget for the Covid19 vaccine, but stressed that the NTF-ELCAC fund plays a crucial part in the government's anti-insurgency program which, after 50 years, already gained momentum and positive results during the current administration.

"First of all, I would like to make it clear na ano man ang mapag-usapan natin sa Chamber na ito, yung highly contested na NTF-ELCAC funds, kung ito ay gustong gamitin para pang vaccine ng Covid, wala po akong problema diyan. Pero with all due respect, Mr. President, gusto ko lang i-underscore yung importance nitong pondo na ito sa probelma natin sa insurgency," Dela Rosa said.

The senator likened the anti-insurgency efforts of the government to courtship.

"Pwede bang matanong yung ating good sponsor kung nakapanligaw ka na ba ng isang babae na meron nang matagal na boyfriend na gusto mong agawin yung babae? Nabanggit ko po ito dahil itong ating sitwasyon ngayon sa insurgency ay ihinahalintulad ko ito sa panliligaw kung saan itong ating mga kanayunan, itong 822 barangays na na-clear na ngayon [from anti insurgency]... ay 50 years in the making po ito na nililigawan ng ating kasundaluhan at kapulisan para mapunta yung simpatiya nila sa ating gobyerno," Dela Rosa explained.

The P16.4 billion budget on the NTF-Elcac Barangay Development Program will be used for socio-economic development in barangays that were cleared from insurgency. It will include building of DepEd schools to replace Salugpungan schools, water and sanitation systems, electrification, health stations, as well as farm to market roads. The funds will also be used to create agricultural livelihood and technical vocational projects for the residents.

"Kapag tanggalin natin itong pondo na ito para diyan sa barangay development program na iyan na nakalaan doon sa barangay, sa LGSF, kung tanggalin natin yan anong mangyayari? Wala tayong ma-deliver na mga goods and sevices doon sa mga barangay na prinamisan natin... anong sasabihin ng mga taumbayan doon?" Dela Rosa asked.

According to Dela Rosa, Filipinos value 'word of honor,' and not delivering on the government's promise to the residents of these barangays will surely lead them back to the armed struggle, putting the decades of hard work of the police and military down the drain.

"Napaka importante po ng word of honor sa isang Pilipino. Yung pag nagsabi ka, dapat gawin mo... So itong 50 years na marami nang namatay na mga tauhan natin... ay mawawalang saysay kung tanggalin natin itong pondo na ito. This is the right time. Kumbaga nasa tuktok na tayo, pag hindi tayo makarating sa tuktok, slide down tayo pabalik. The same problem will occur," Dela Rosa said.

The Minadanaoan Senator, a former soldier and police officer for more than 3 decades, recounted his experience with armed conflict in Mindanao.

"Bago ako naging senador, naging pulis ako, naging sundalo ako, at I have seen the horrors of war... napakasakit po kapag habang naglalakad sa bundok, tinanong ko yung isang tao, 'meron bang NPA diyan? Sabi ng nasalubong namin na tao - wala sir, walang NPA.' Maya-maya pagdating namin sa unahan, pukpukan na, inambush na kami. Ang daming patay sa mga tauhan ko. Napakasakit po isipin na yung simpatiya ng ating mga tao, whom we have sworn to serve and protect, ay wala sa atin. Andun sa kabila sa kalaban, dahil napabayaan sila," the senator shared.

Dela Rosa stressed that the country needs a whole of nation approach and a whole of government approach, not just a military solution, to finally put an end to insurgency.

"Very clear po 'yan, Mr. President, na sinasabi natin to end this local armed conflict with the communists, kailangan natin ng whole of nation approach at hindi lang po military solution. Itong NTF-ELCAC funds na ito for barangay development program ay hindi po ito pangbili ng bala at baril para patayin ang mga NPA, kundi ito po ay mga socio-economic programs ang projects para doon sa mga barangay, para makatulong sa mga tao doon," Dela Rosa noted.

"Yung legal fronts ng mga komunista, nagkukumahog na harangin itong pondo na ito dahil battle ito of winning the hearts and minds of the people. If the government could deliver what they promised to these barangays, then mananalo [tayo against insurgency], i-isnabin na ng mga tao sa barangay yung mga NPA na yan," Dela Rosa said in closing.

Dela Rosa's manifestation was supported by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Majority Floor Leader and fellow Mindanaoan Senator Migz Zubiri, and Finance Chairman Senator Sonny Angara.

Senator Ping Lacson also stressed that the P16.4 billion budget will be directly downloaded to the LGUs and not to the NTF ELCAC for implementation, once approved as part of the 2021 budget.