!!!-advised. ill-timed. ill-informed

Just when you think the government is finally exercising fiscal responsibility given the ongoing House hearings on the confidential funds issued to the Office of the Vice President (0VP) and the Department of Education, comes news that President Marcos has increased the budget of the controversial N ational Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac).

From P2.5 million for each barangay, the President has approved an increase of up to P7.5 million per village ~ or P10 million each ~ under the task force's Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP), saying the original allocation would "hardly make an impact in terms of development," National Security Council assistant director general Jonathan Malaya said.

Another P4.32 billion was allotted to 864 barangays for farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water and sanitation systems, health stations, rural electrification, and other relevant non-infra projects, Malaya said, adding that Mr. Marcos has expressed support for the P10 million per barangay item in the 2025 budget currently under deliberation in the Senate.