DAVAO CITY — TO sustain the gains of the current administration in its fight to end insurgency in the country, President Rodrigo Duterte wants the next administration to continue implementing the campaign of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to eventually put an end to communist rebellion in the country.
NTF-ELCAC is a task force organized by the government to respond and raise awareness to the ongoing communist rebellion in the Philippines.
The government has invested billions in its comprehensive fight against the 50-year-old insurgency problem, proving all infrastructure needed in the countryside and win people’s heart to trust government.
“Kagaya nitong ELCAC, it’s a very good program. It has helped a lot of the rebels find their way into the mainstream of society at makisali kayo,” President Duterte said during his weekly Talk to the People briefing.
“Hindi man kayo mabigyan kaagad, just be patient. But kung sana halos lahat nabigyan ko… Let’s — tingnan natin ‘yung mga bahay na nabigay sa mga rebels at ‘yung lupa.”
The President once again encouraged communist insurgents to surrender, promising them job, training and livelihood, as well as land and shelter.
Government agencies such as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are ready to provide skills training. Rebels returning to the fold of the law will receive a parcel of land and a housing unit like the President distributed in Leyte recently.
All they have to do, he said, is to go to a police or military facility in their area and surrender.
“Hini-jack ko ‘yung propaganda, the one propaganda that the communists, the terrorists are relying is noon walang lupa. Now, I have distributed something like 160 — 100,000 hectares ang naibigay ko na,” he said.
“At ‘yung pabahay gawin natin malista lang naman kayo and I hope the next administration will continue with this ELCAC.”
Last week, the President inaugurated the new Leyte Provincial Capitol and led the distribution of certificates of land ownership awards (CLOAs) to agrarian reform beneficiaries including former rebels.
He also handed out housing units at the Peace and Prosperity Village to former rebels.
