·𝗡𝗧𝗙-𝗘𝗟𝗖𝗔𝗖 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

August 14, 2026

MANILA — Newly installed National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Director, Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag, has laid down a clear direction for the next phase of the government’s peace and development campaign: a Philippines where no Filipino child will ever again grow up in the shadow of armed conflict.

Formally taking the helm of the NTF-ELCAC, Pamonag called on government agencies, local chief executives, security forces, civil society, and local communities to move forward with a common purpose.

For Pamonag, lasting peace cannot simply mean the absence of armed encounters. He emphasized that victory must be measured in the daily lives of ordinary Filipinos—a child able to go to school without fear, a family earning a living in peace, and a remote barangay accessing full government services.

“The finish line is within our sight, but the final steps require our highest level of passion, integrity, and hard work,” Pamonag said. “We must remain proactive and agile in serving the people, so that no Filipino child will ever again grow up in the shadow of armed conflict.”

He stressed that true peace is achieved when a child in a far-flung mountain barangay enjoys the same access to education, infrastructure, and livelihood opportunities as children in urban centers.

Pamonag anchored his roadmap on three foundational pillars—Unity, Peace, and Development—outlining key priorities for the Task Force:

• Strengthening the Whole-of-Nation Approach: Deepening coordination among national agencies and local government units (LGUs).

• Breaking Down Institutional Silos: Fostering a cohesive, results-driven bureaucracy to accelerate interagency convergence.

• Sustaining Community Presence: Ensuring Joint Regional Task Forces and National Clusters remain active and responsive in historically isolated or vulnerable areas.

• Securing Long-Term Development: Making roads, schools, health services, and economic opportunities permanent features of cleared communities to prevent any resurgence of violence.

“Magkaisa po tayo. Let us transform former conflict zones into vibrant centers of opportunity and hope. Let us walk this path together,” Pamonag added.

Paying tribute to his predecessor, Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr., Pamonag credited his strategic foresight in weakening the armed insurgency, empowering local chief executives, and steering the campaign toward good governance.

“Usec. Torres, maraming salamat sa iyong tapat na paglilingkod sa bayan. You have left behind a solid foundation upon which we will continue to build,” Pamonag stated.

As the insurgency continues to weaken, Pamonag rallied the NTF-ELCAC Secretariat, regional task forces, and partner agencies to execute the final stretch with heightened professionalism and integrity, noting that the ultimate victory will be empowering a generation of Filipino children who will never have to live through an insurgency.

National Security Adviser and NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairperson Secretary Eduardo S.L. Oban Jr., who presided over the turnover ceremony, fully backed Pamonag’s strategic direction.

Oban challenged the Task Force to lock in recent gains by institutionalizing successful peace interventions directly into the regular machinery of government. He likewise praised Usec. Torres’ past stewardship in shifting the nation's strategy from a purely security-centered response to one where development serves as the primary driver of peace.