By Genalyn Kabiling  The government will set aside around P20 billion to implement development projects in hundreds of barangays affected by the Communist insurgency this year, according to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.
(JANSEN ROMERO / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Esperon said the government intends to allot P20 million each for the development projects in 842 barangays cleared of rebel influence while P1.5 million for 2,739 barangays under insurgency threat. The fund request made by Esperon under the "Retooled Community Support Program" had been approved by President Duterte during a Cabinet meeting last Monday. "We have 842 barangays that we have cleared of the influence of the CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front) or the Communist Terrorist Group( CTG). We are allocating at least P20 million for each barangay for development projects as approved by the President," Esperon said in an interview with Manila Bulletin. "There are 2,739 barangays threatened by CTG expansion activities. We are allocating P1.5 million each for development. These development projects will be put in place in 2020,” said Esperon, vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The projects include farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation system, national greening program, health facilities, and livelihood programs. With the implementation of the development projects, he said they hope the Communist rebels will return to the fold of the law, or will be forced out of the barangays. "The NPA also loses the support of the people. Instead of being mass base of NPA, they become productive citizens living in peaceful communities," he added. Esperon assured that the government would continue to clear other barangays of the CTG threat. "While delivering the development projects in 2020, another 609 barangays influenced by CTG will be cleared by our team through the Retooled Community Support Program," he said. He said the government team used to be composed of soldiers and policemen but will now be led by a concerned mayor or other local government officials. "The military and PNP take a secondary role and secure the largely civilian components/teams of the RCSP," he said. He said the development projects for 609 barangays are expected to deliver in 2021.