Church Hails “Blessing” of BDP Engagement, Joins NTF-ELCAC Execom

October 02, 2025

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC)’s Barangay Development Program (BDP) received a major boost as the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) formally joined the Executive Committee (Execom), pledging full support for peace and development.

The announcement came during a Malacañang press conference following the 8th Execom Meeting of the NTF-ELCAC, where PCEC National Director Bishop Noel Pantoja described the engagement as both a spiritual duty and a patriotic responsibility.

“This is a blessing to the church but at the same time to the country… Makakasigurado po kayo sa presence ng church ngayon, babantayan po natin yung ghost projects. At makakasigurado tayo na ang church talaga ay galit sa korapsyon at tinindigan natin ito hanggang ngayon,” Pantoja declared.

Representing 78 evangelical denominations, over 40,000 local churches, and 268 missions and other church organizations, PCEC brings nationwide reach to the NTF-ELCAC. Its seat in the Execom ensures the church’s active role in shaping and monitoring policies and programs that address the root causes of insurgency.

In a September 19, 2025 letter of support to the NTF-ELCAC, Bishop Pantoja stressed that PCEC “commends the Government… for institutionalizing a whole-of-nation, people-centered, and human rights-based blueprint to address the root causes of insurgency and attain inclusive, sustainable peace.”

He added that the alignment of the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD) 2025–2028 with the country’s broader security and development frameworks provides a “historic opportunity to localize interventions, strengthen monitoring and evaluation, and engage multi-sectoral partners.”

The September 19 letter outlined PCEC’s commitments:

Partnering with LGUs and communities to implement livelihood programs.

Providing technical assistance and capacity-building for Peace and Development Centers.

Participating in monitoring and evaluation, sharing data for evidence-based adjustments.

Mobilizing private-sector and philanthropic resources for employment, education, and basic services.

Promoting inclusive engagement of civil society, women, youth, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups in local peace processes.

“We affirm that our support and participation will be consistent with national laws, human rights obligations, and principles of non-partisanship and transparency,” the letter emphasized.

NTF-ELCAC Executive Director and Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr. warmly welcomed PCEC’s participation, calling it a powerful addition to the Task Force’s efforts.

“We deeply appreciate PCEC’s decision to formally join the Execom. Their moral voice and wide presence in every community provide stronger assurance that the BDP remains transparent and accountable. Let me also emphasize that there are no ghost BDP projects. Every project is accounted for, monitored, and implemented in partnership with local governments and communities,” Torres said.

He explained that the BDP has already delivered tangible projects—farm-to-market roads, school buildings, water systems, health centers, and electrification—in barangays cleared of insurgent influence. These are funded according to program phases and priorities.

Torres added that the involvement of the church sector, especially through PCEC’s extensive network, “reinforces the whole-of-nation approach and ensures that peacebuilding is not only institutional but also moral and people-centered.”

Bishop Pantoja said the church’s presence in every sitio and barangay gives it a unique ability to help communities take ownership of development projects and ensure transparency.

“Ang mga simbahan natin ay located in every sitio, in every barangay. May magagawa ang simbahan para hikayatin ang mga tao na tumulong at magkaroon ng tunay na kapayapaan and lasting peace,” he said.

With PCEC now at the Execom table, the BDP is framed not only as a government program but also as a moral mission—a partnership of state and church to achieve justice, progress, and enduring peace in long-neglected communities.