Nancy Binay says NTF-ELCAC should present finished projects in 2023

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) must show proof that funds allocated to it in the annual national budget were used for programs and projects, Senator Nancy Binay said.

The Senate finance committee vice chairperson made the remark in light of the restoration of the P10 billion budget for the NTF-ELCAC under the final version of the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

In the P5.024 trillion budget for fiscal year 2022, the NTF-ELCAC was allotted more than P16 billion.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Binay explained that the restoration of the NTF-ELCAC budget in the 2023 GAB is part of the “compromise” that happens during the bicameral conference where the contingents of the House of Representatives and the Senate discuss the disagreeing provisions of their respective versions of the budget bill.

“Bicam nga ‘yan e bahagi ng pag-compromise itong pagbabalik ng pondo ng NTF-ELCAC,” she said.

“Siguro in the coming years, mas babantayan natin ‘yung implementation lalong lalo na it’s on its third year. Dapat by this time, ‘yung mga naunang napondohan na programa ng [NTF-ELCAC] e meron talagang tapos na,” she added.

During the Senate finance committee deliberations on the 2023 GAB in October, Binay asked for the completion status of the projects spearheaded by the NTF-ELCAC as the task force was requesting P10 billion in special purpose funds (SPF) for 2023.

Binay showed a document which indicated that around 50% of the projects funded by the P16.4 billion worth of SPF in 2021 are still “in limbo.”

In the same hearing, it was disclosed that the NTF-ELCAC projects are identified only during the implementation phase, which prompted Senate finance committee chairman Sonny Angara to liken these funds to “pork barrel.”

Pork barrel — declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court — refers to lump-sum and discretionary funds earmarked for lawmakers in the national budget for their pet projects.

Last Monday, both houses of Congress ratified the P5.268-trillion appropriations for 2023.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

Nancy Binay says NTF-ELCAC should present finished projects in 2023
Source: Filipino Viral News PH