Politics · Philippines Bureau
Anti-Poverty Chief Urges Wider Roll-Out of NTF-Elcac Development Program
The National Anti-Poverty Commission is calling for expanded coverage of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's community development initiative, citing measurable progress across thousands of barangays.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA – The head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission has urged the expansion of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict's Barangay Development Program to reach more communities nationwide. Secretary Lope Santos III said the initiative, which currently covers more than 5,000 barangays, has delivered significant results that warrant broader implementation.
In a statement released Sunday, Santos highlighted the program's success in reducing poverty incidence in numerous local government units where it has been deployed. The Barangay Development Program represents a coordinated effort to address development gaps in remote and conflict-affected areas through infrastructure projects and livelihood initiatives.
The NAPC chief's call for expansion reflects confidence in the program's effectiveness in delivering tangible benefits to participating communities. Officials have pointed to improved access to basic services and economic opportunities in barangays under the program as evidence of its positive impact.
The initiative has been positioned as part of broader government efforts to address the root causes of insurgency by improving living conditions and economic prospects in vulnerable areas. Santos' statement suggests momentum building toward scaling up the program's geographic reach in the coming months.