Quezon City, Philippines – In a significant move to support rural development and counter-insurgency efforts, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered an increase in the Barangay Development Fund (BDF) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to P7.5 million per barangay for 2024.
The National Security Council (NSC) confirmed on a press release November 11, Monday that an additional P5 million per barangay has been allocated, raising the initial P2.5 million in the 2024 General Appropriations Act to a total of P7.5 million for 864 barangays cleared of communist influence.
NSC Assistant Director-General Jonathan Malaya explained that the President found the original funding insufficient to drive substantial development.
“The President was not satisfied with the original P2.5 million per barangay in the 2024 General Appropriations Act, so he directed an augmentation,” said Malaya.
“He believes that P2.5 million alone would not create enough impact to spur real development,” he added.
The increase is part of an initiative aimed at addressing the underlying causes of insurgency by enhancing infrastructure and services in communities affected by conflict, especially communities that are those previously considered influenced by CPP-NPA-NDF.
PBBM also supported for the increase in allocation to P10 million per barangay in the 2025 budget proposed by National Expenditure Program (NEP).