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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Makabayan solon outraged over restoration of P10-B NTF-ELCAC budget

Makabayan solon outraged over restoration of P10-B NTF-ELCAC budget

Published Dec 6, 2022 11:39 am

Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas is up in arms over the restoration of the P10-billion budget of the controversial National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in the proposed 2023 national budget, which is nearing enactment.

Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas



Brosas, in an statement Tuesday, Dec. 6, accused the Bicameral Conference Committee of "secretly restoring" the budget of NTF-ELCAC "despite the resounding call of the masses for the realignment of its budget for much-needed basic services".

The restoration of the P10-billion budget was announced Monday morning by the bicam panel after they approved the bicam report on the proposed P5.268-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for next year.

The bicam panel is composed of both House of Representatives and Senate members. Earlier in the budget deliberations, the two chambers reduced the NTF-ELCAC budget from P10 billion to P5 billion.

"The reduction of the budget of the NTF-ELCAC was the product of the deliberations in Congress. Ano pang saysay ng pagbusisi sa budget ng bawat ahensya kung pagdating sa Bicameral Conference Committee ay papalitan din ito ayon sa kagustuhan ng iilan? (What is the point of scrutinizing the budgets of each agency if it will be changed by the whims of the few in the Bicameral Conference Committee?)" asked Brosas, an assistant minority leader and member of the Makabayan bloc.

There is no love lost between Makabayan and the NTF-ELCAC, which the militant solons have branded a "red-tagging agency".

Gabriela and the rest of Makabayan has opposed funneling billions of pesos into NTF-ELCAC, saying it has "a long-standing track record of using public funds for red-tagging and villification of progressive groups and individuals".

"Sa lahat ng pwedeng pondohan ng P10 bilyon, NTF-ELCAC pa talaga (Of all the agencies that can be funded with P10 billion, why choose the NTF-ELCAC)," Brosas said.

"But despite this, we will continue to call for the abolishment of this red-tagging agency and realign its funds for direct financial aid and much-needed basic social services," Brosas concluded.

On Monday night, the House and Senate separately ratified the approved bicam report. The enrolled copy of the GAB will soon be sent to Malacañang for the President’s signature.

Related Tags

gabriela Party-list bicameral conference committee Restoration 120622 NTF-ELCAC Makabayan Red-tagging P10 billion bicam
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