by Rey Anthony H. Chiu
Bohol proposes some half a billion pesos worth of programs, activities and projects that would contribute to perpetually ending local community empowerment strengthened enough to drive local communist resurgence in their areas under the End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) program.
In Bohol, local authorities have identified 19 target barangays in Antequera, Calape, Clarin, Inabanga, Maribojoc and Sagbayan, based on the report shared during the recent Regional Peace and Order Council, meeting online in the last part of March 2021.
For Antequera, 7 programs, projects and activities are identified with a budget of P40 million.
For Calape, its leaders and constituents named 5 proposed projects for P20 million, while Clarin eyed 6 proposed projects with a total funding requirement reaching P60 million.
Inabanga, which has the most number of target barangays at 9, identified a total of 60 projects and programs for a total funding requirement of P324, 915, 000.
On the other hand, Maribojoc has one target barangay and its residents along with local municipal ELCAC team have picked 2 proposed projects at P60 million.
Finally, Sagbayan which has three target barangays have proposed 10 projects that need a total of P60 million in budget.
As to the source of the funds, the list of priority programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) is proposed for funding by the National Task Force – ELCAC and sent through the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security, Secretary Michael Lloyd L. Dino.
The budget for the ELCAC projects would be considered for funding, support, and/or inclusion in the 2022 General Appropriations Act.
Also pooling in their funds are national government agencies like the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Philippine National Police, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department of Public Works and Highways.
National Irrigation Administration, Department of Energy, Department of Trade and Industry, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources as well as the Department of Agrarian Reform.
Office of the Civil Defense, National Youth Commission, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, National Housing Authority, Department of Tourism, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources as well as the Department of Budget and Management-Local Government Support Fund.
Other than these national government agencies, local government units also put in their counterpart development funds and the Support to Barangay Development Program.