LP, Commies, fail to block BDP; DILG: 99 percent of fund already released

THE effort by front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and their suspected ally in Congress, the Liberal Party (LP), to block government effort to bring development to former CPP strongholds in the country has clearly failed with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirming that 99 percent of the allocated budget for the ‘BDP’ (Barangay Development Fund) has already been released to beneficiary communities.

DILG secretary, Eduardo M. Año, in a statement, said a total of P16.24 billion or 99 percent of the funds for the BDP allocated to 822 barangays cleared of CPP-NPA presence have already been released to the recipient local government units (LGUs).

Sec. Año said that the amount covers 2,276 projects in 812 barangays nationwide.

The BDP concept was first proposed by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) where the DILG also sits as a member.

The BDP sought to prevent the return to CPP-NPA influence over the country’s remote villages after being cleared of their presence by the government by directly providing them with development support and assistance.

On various occasions, CPP front organizations in Congress and LP lawmakers like Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, had sought to derail the project’s success by blocking its proposed budget during budget deliberations. However, their intrigue was rejected by the majority members of both chambers of Congress.

“With the P16.24-billion fund downloaded to the recipient LGUs, we will implement some 2,276 projects which will benefit our kababayans in the sitios and barrios that were formerly influenced by the Communist terrorists,” said Año, also a former Army and AFP chief.

“These projects are tangible proof of the government’s desire to bring development to far flung areas that have not seen government projects in a very long time,” he added.

According to the DILG Secretary, majority of the projects identified by the recipient barangays are infrastructure projects broken down into 926 farm-to-market roads; 516 water and sanitation projects; 156 health stations; and, 135 school buildings.

The highly-respected and bemedaled former military officer said ‘infra’ composed the biggest allocation under the DILG’s Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).

“It is apparent na malaki ang pangangailangan sa mga komunidad ng mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura kaya tayo po ay natutuwa na sa tulong ng BDP ay napaglaanan ang mga proyektong tulad nito,” Año added.

For the above projects, P11.611-billion has been earmarked for farm-to-market road projects; P2.386-billion for water and sanitation system; P569-million for school buildings; P491-million for health station; P482-million for rural electrification; and, P328-million for agricultural, livelihood and technical vocational projects.

He further said that P125.8-million are for other infrastructure projects; P110-million cost of assistance to indigent individuals and families; P87-million for the cost of reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair and other similar projects; P22.4-million for housing; and, P22.5-million for COVID-19-related projects.

“The claims of Karapatan are mere allegations and speculations that had never been substantiated in any judicial court or in any official investigation. “This so-called EJK has never been a policy of this government. It is not surprising for Karapatan to make these unfounded allegations because everyone knows the true color of Karapatan”– Sec. Año.

The top five regions that received the biggest fund allocation are Western Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.

Sec. Año also took potshots at CPP front organization, ‘Karapatan,’ which claimed that village-beneficiaries under the BDP are those who registered the highest number of “EJKs” (extra-judicial killings) by government forces.

“The selection of 822 barangays to receive BDP funds underwent a thorough validation process participated by different stakeholders, particularly the people from the concerned barangays. These barangays share a common history, being exploited or subjected to abuses and deception by the CPP-NPA,” Año pointed out.

“The claims of Karapatan are mere allegations and speculations that had never been substantiated in any judicial court or in any official investigation.

“This so-called EJK has never been a policy of this government. It is not surprising for Karapatan to make these unfounded allegations because everyone knows the true color of Karapatan,” he added.

The DILG chief also assured that funds allocated to the remaining 10 villages covered by the BDP shall be released as soon as the required documentary project requirements are complied with.