Heroes Hall, Malacañan Palace
April 4, 2024

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. presided over the 5th National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Committee (EXECOM) Meeting at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace.

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) Director General Ricardo De Leon provided an update on the current status of Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) while NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres discussed three (3) points, namely the accomplishments and ways forward on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict, status of the Implementation of the Barangay Development Program (BDP) and the Proposed NTF-ELCAC Roadmap.

In response, President Marcos Jr. issued all the crucial directives concerning the NTF-ELCAC projects. These include the immediate implementation of the Amnesty Program for members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-New People’s Army (NPA)-National Democratic Front (NDF); activating the government agencies’ Project Development Office for the implementation of NTF-ELCAC Projects; increasing financial support to the 846 BDP barangays for 2024 so that the requirements for farm-to-market roads, water system and sanitation can immediately be funded this year; and proposing specific programs for the continuous implementation of projects for more than 5,000 barangays that have been part of BDP since its inception.

Lastly, he urged the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) and Department of National Defense (DND) to study the proposed 2024-2028 NTF-ELCAC Roadmap that aims to institutionalize the NTF-ELCAC’s transformation program for combatants, their families and barangays.

Prior to the meeting, President Marcos Jr. administered the oath-taking ceremony of the appointed EXECOM members.

* * *