Inendorso ng National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Committee ang mga pangunahing polisiya upang matiyak ang mas mabilis na pagtugon ng pamahalaan sa mga pangangailangan sa nasyonal at lokal na antas.

Ginawa ang pag-endorso noong Miyerkules sa ika-siyam na Executive Committee Meeting na pinamunuan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa Malakanyang.

Ang Pangulo ang Chairperson ng NTF-ELCAC na binubuo ng 12 cluster at mga katuwang na ahensya na tumutugon sa seguridad, pamamahala, imprastruktura, at serbisyong panlipunan sa ilalim ng whole-of-nation approach upang tuluyang mapuksa ang lokal na mga grupong teroristang komunista at makamit ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan sa buong bansa.

Kabilang sa mga rekomendasyon ng komite ang mungkahing pagpapalawig ng Amnesty Program, pagbibigay-prayoridad sa mahahalagang batas, pagpapalawak ng pondo para sa kaunlaran, at pagpapahusay ng mga mekanismo ng Task Force upang mas maging epektibo ang pamamahala.

“As the administration moves forward, the NTF-ELCAC calls on all stakeholders, government agencies, local government units, civil society, and the Filipino people to remain united in advancing a shared vision of a peaceful, secure, and progressive Philippines,” ayon kay Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr., NTF-ELCAC executive director.

(Habang sumusulong ang administrasyon, nananawagan ang NTF-ELCAC sa lahat ng stakeholder—mga ahensya ng gobyerno, lokal na pamahalaan, civil society, at sambayanang Pilipino—na manatiling nagkakaisa sa pagsusulong ng isang mapayapa, ligtas, at maunlad na Pilipinas)

Dagdag pa niya: “Through unity, we overcome division. Through development, we eliminate the roots of conflict. And through collective action, we secure lasting peace for every Filipino.”

(Sa pagkakaisa, nalalampasan natin ang pagkakawatak-watak. Sa kaunlaran, natatanggal ang ugat ng tunggalian. At sa kolektibong pagkilos, natitiyak ang pangmatagalang kapayapaan para sa bawat Pilipino)

Binanggit ni Torres na bagama’t malaki na ang progreso, kailangan pa rin ng pagpapatuloy at mas matibay na koordinasyon upang mapanatili ang kapayapaan. Ang nagbabagong anyo ng mga banta—tulad ng recruitment, maling impormasyon, at internasyonal na support networks—ay nangangailangan ng institusyonal at malawakang pagtugon ng gobyerno.

Nanatiling mahalaga ang mekanismo ng NTF-ELCAC sa pagpapanatili ng mga nakamit na kaunlaran sa mga komunidad na apektado ng tunggalian; sa pagpigil sa radikalisasyon; sa pagpapalakas ng koordinasyon ng mga ahensya; sa pagtitiyak ng pananagutan at rule of law; at sa pagsusulong ng inklusibong peacebuilding, reconciliation, at reintegration.

Ipinabatid din ng Task Force sa Pangulo ang update sa implementasyon ng National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD) 2025-2028, na nagpapakita ng bisa ng whole-of-nation approach ng pamahalaan sa pagtugon sa ugat ng insureksyon.

Bago ang pagpupulong, pinangunahan ni Pangulong Marcos ang panunumpa ng mga bagong itinalagang Cabinet officers para sa Regional Development and Security (CORDS), mga miyembro ng NTF-ELCAC ExeCom, at mga cluster head. | PND

Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Agriculture (DA) has begun implementing toll-free access for trucks carrying agricultural products to ensure an unhampered supply of food and keep prices stable.

At a Palace press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DA, led by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., has intensified the government’s Food Lane Program through the launching of the “Agri-Trucks Toll-Free Program.”

The initiative, which took effect on April 20, grants toll-free passage to DA-accredited agricultural transport vehicles to reduce logistics costs and speed up food distribution, especially amid rising fuel prices.

“Pinalawak din ng Department of Agriculture ang programa sa pamamagitan ng mas mabilis at pinadaling proseso ng aplikasyon,” said Castro.

The program is part of the UPLIFT (Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport) Tulong sa Agri Sector, an initiative of the Marcos administration that seeks to support farmers, fisherfolk, and food producers nationwide in the wake of fluctuating global fuel prices driven by the conflict in the Middle East.

“Tugon din ito sa programa ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para sa sektor ng agrikultura,” Castro said. | PND

In a continued effort to support the vulnerable sector, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday personally oversaw the distribution of 10 kilos of rice to 100 ambulant or small-scale vendors in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

During the event, President Marcos took time to personally engage with the beneficiaries, who were visibly delighted to be with the President.

In an interview, Palayan City Mayor Viandrei Nicole Cuevas said the distributed rice was from the Local Government Support Fund-Growth Equity Fund (LGSF-GEF), which the national government has allocated to local government units (LGUs) to help lagging LGUs implement their programs.

“It was the President’s mandate that 5 million of that fund would go to rice, to bigas. Para ‘yung pang-araw-araw, lalo na ngayon, medyo mataas ‘yung mga gastusin. At least, at the very least, makakakain ‘yung mga Pilipino,” Cuevas said.

Cuevas also commended the administration for streamlining the LGSF processes, noting that this has made a big difference in procurement by reducing red tape and bureaucracy, making project implementation more effective and efficient.

“To our President, maraming, maraming salamat po. Unang-una sa pagtiwala po sa LGUs na i-implement po ‘yung programa po na ito ay isang malaki at mahalagang programa po para sa mga Palayano,” Cuevas said.

“It’s already making such a big difference in how, you know, in the speed that we conduct the programs, hindi na po kailangan maghintay,” she added.

Cuevas also mentioned plans to expand the rice program, which is expected to benefit around 11,000 Filipinos.

Following the distribution, the President also inspected the Kadiwa stores, which offer affordable agricultural produce and other basic commodities for Filipinos, particularly senior citizens, solo parents, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and members of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The President also met with the 19 barangay captains of Palayan City. Each of them will receive PhP200,000 from the Office of the President under the Socio-Civic project funds to support students in need and address various community concerns. | PND

A flagship housing project of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is now taking shape three years after its launch, with families beginning to experience its intended benefits.

President Marcos on Thursday inspected the Palayan City Township Project in Barangay Atate, Palayan City, underscoring the progress of the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program.

The President toured residential buildings, community facilities, and amenities such as the central park and clubhouse, and later met with early homeowners, highlighting the township’s growing sense of community.

President Marcos was joined by Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling, Palayan City Mayor Viandrei Nicole Cuevas, and other officials.

More than three years after its groundbreaking in December 2022, led by President Marcos, the project has made steady progress, with several buildings already completed and others nearing completion.

Families have begun moving into condominium-type units, marking the transition from construction to a livable community.

Covering 23 hectares, the township is designed as a vertical housing community that blends residential buildings with open spaces and shared facilities. Once completed, it will house around 22,596 beneficiaries across 24 buildings.

Units are priced at about PhP1.3 million for 29 sq.m., offered with no down payment and an affordable monthly amortization ranging from PhP3,500 to PhP4,000—making homeownership attainable even for minimum-wage earners. Applications remain open to qualified residents of Palayan City and families from other areas.

Secretary Aliling stressed that the project reflects the administration’s vision of building complete, dignified communities.

“Tatlong taon mula nang simulan itong proyekto, malinaw na ang direksyon—unti-unti nang nabubuo ang komunidad, at nakikita na natin ang tunay na bunga ng programa,” he said.

“Hindi lang ito pabahay. Ito ay pagbubuo ng komunidad kung saan may dignidad, seguridad, at pag-asa ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino.”

The Expanded 4PH program targets one million homes annually from 2023 to 2028, aiming to reduce the country’s 6.5 million housing backlog while generating 1.7 million jobs each year.

President Marcos emphasized the holistic vision of the initiative, first articulated during the project’s launch in 2022.

“Hindi lang bahay ang itinatayo, kundi komunidad na may kabuhayan at serbisyo,” the President said. | PND

The fulfillment of a lifelong dream to have a safe and dignified home.

This was how Alexander Punsalan Driz, a 55-year-old public high school teacher from Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija, described the Palayan City Township Project, an Expanded Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino (4PH) Program under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.

Driz, one of the first beneficiaries of 4PH Program, shared how the project has given him and his family a new sense of security.

“Napakaswerte namin bilang mga guro na nabigyan ng pagkakataon na magkaroon ng sariling bahay. Safe na, maayos pa,” he said.

Despite being offered a shorter payment term of 15 years due to his age, Driz expressed gratitude for the program’s affordability. His unit, priced at around PhP1.3 million, requires no down payment and has a monthly amortization of about PhP8,000.

“Magaan na magaan. Kung mas bata pa ako, 30 years to pay sana, eh nadoble ang Php4,000 na monthly na bayaran ko kasi may edad na ako na payable ng 15 years, pero kahit 15 years, malaking tulong na rin,” he explained.

As part of the first batch of qualified applicants, Driz recalled the rigorous screening process, including Pag-IBIG membership and interviews.

“Mahigpit sila sa screening, pero mababait at approachable ang mga staff. Tinulungan kami mula turnover hanggang sa paglipat,” he said.

Though he continues to teach at Zaragoza High School, Driz and his wife spend weekends at their new home, enjoying the township’s amenities such as the swimming pool and open spaces.

“Tahimik at maayos dito. May mga pasilidad na magagamit ng lahat at inayos pa nila ang unit bago kami lumipat,” he added.

The Palayan City Township Project spans 23 hectares and is envisioned as a vertical housing community with 24 residential buildings, capable of accommodating more than 22,000 beneficiaries. It is part of the 4PH program’s ambitious target of building a million homes annually from 2023 to 2028, addressing the country’s 6.5 million housing backlog while generating 1.7 million jobs each year.

President Marcos, who led the project’s groundbreaking in 2022, emphasized the holistic vision of the initiative, “Hindi lang bahay ang itinatayo, kundi komunidad na may kabuhayan at serbisyo.”

For Driz, that vision is already becoming a reality.

“Napakalaking tulong para sa amin. Kaya maraming salamat po sa ating Pangulong Marcos. Hindi lang ito bahay, kundi simula ng bagong komunidad na may pag-asa,” he said with pride. | PND

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Committee endorsed key policy directions to ensure more responsive governance at the national and local levels.

The committee made the endorsement on Wednesday during the 9th Executive Committee Meeting, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., at Malacañan Palace.

The President is the chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC, which comprises 12 clusters and partner agencies that address security, governance, infrastructure, and social services under a whole-of-nation approach to defeating local communist terrorist groups and achieving sustainable and inclusive peace across the Philippines.

The committee recommended the proposed extension of the Amnesty Program, prioritization of critical legislation, expansion of development funding, and the enhancement of Task Force mechanisms to ensure more responsive governance at the national and local levels.

“As the administration moves forward, the NTF-ELCAC calls on all stakeholders, government agencies, local government units, civil society, and the Filipino people to remain united in advancing a shared vision of a peaceful, secure, and progressive Philippines,” said Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr., NTF-ELCAC executive director.

“Through unity, we overcome division. Through development, we eliminate the roots of conflict. And through collective action, we secure lasting peace for every Filipino.”

Torres said while significant progress has been achieved, the Task Force recognizes that sustaining peace requires continuity, adaptation, and strengthened coordination.

The evolving nature of threats, including recruitment, misinformation, and international support networks, demands a responsive and institutionalized approach, he added.

The NTF-ELCAC mechanism remains vital in sustaining development gains in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities, preventing radicalization, strengthening inter-agency coordination, ensuring accountability and rule of law, and promoting inclusive peacebuilding, reconciliation, and reintegration, he further said.

The task force also provided the President with updates on the implementation of the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD) 2025-2028, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the government’s whole-of-nation approach in addressing the root causes of insurgency.

Prior to the meeting, President Marcos led the swearing-in rites for the newly designated Cabinet officers for Regional Development and Security (CORDS), NTF-ELCAC ExeCom members, and cluster heads. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office to Mel Senen Sarmiento as the new chief of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday.

Sarmiento succeeds Carlito Galvez Jr., who stepped down from the post to spend more time with his family.

As PAPRU, Sarmiento will lead efforts to advance inclusive peace initiatives, strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders, and sustain programs that promote unity and development in conflict-affected and vulnerable communities.

Sarmiento brings extensive experience in public service. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Galing Pook Foundation, a position he has held since November 2021.

He previously served as Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the administration of the late President Benigno Aquino III from September 2015 to June 2016.

Prior to his role in the national government, Sarmiento served as congressman of Samar’s 1st District for nearly two terms from 2010 to 2015. He also served as mayor of Calbayog City, Samar, for three terms from 2001 to 2010, and as vice mayor from 1992 to 1995.

In recognition of his service, Sarmiento has received several national honors, including the Order of Lakandula (Rank of Gold Cross), the Order of Sikatuna, and the Rank of Grand Cross (Datu), all conferred by former President Aquino.

He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He is an honorary member of the Philippine Military Academy Maharlika Class of 1984.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) was established in 1993 through Executive Order No. 125 to define the government’s framework and administrative structure for comprehensive peace efforts. It was further strengthened in 2001 through Executive Order No. 3.

In 2021, the office was renamed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity under Executive Order No. 158, expanding its mandate to oversee the Comprehensive Peace Process and promote national reconciliation and unity. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday joined thousands of Catholic faithful in Pangasinan to mark the centennial canonical coronation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag.

The rites were held at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, long regarded as one of the country’s most venerated pilgrimage sites.

Accompanied by First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, the President took part in the two-hour mass attended by a sea of devotees that spilled beyond the church grounds.

Marcos read a prayer during the liturgy as many of the faithful endured sweltering heat to witness the historic commemoration.

“May this celebration be with our moment as a people whom you have called in this blessed place and renew our commitment to serve you and our neighbors with love and compassion through the intercession of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag the Beloved Protectress and patrons of the Prophets of Messiah,” the President said.

“May our lives be filled with your blessings and may we always glorify you in our words and actions,” the President added.

Local health responders attended to at least 10 elderly individuals and two teenagers, while several others briefly collapsed amid the crowd.

Church officials proceeded with the celebration, which began at 9 a.m. with a Misa Concelebrada held in front of the basilica.

The occasion commemorates the 100th anniversary of the image’s canonical coronation in 1926, a rare honor bestowed by the Vatican.

As part of the rites, the President and the First Lady formally presented ceremonial crowns to Apostolic Nuncio Charles John Brown, representing the Holy See.

The program also featured a reenactment of the historic crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus.

A grand procession of the revered image is set to pass through the streets of Manaoag later in the day.

The celebration, themed “Inán Mariá: Crowned in Grace, Calling Us to Jesus,” underscores the enduring Marian devotion among Filipino Catholics.

Joining the presidential couple were Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III and Manaoag Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario.

The town of Manaoag, whose name is derived from a local term meaning “to call,” traces its origin to accounts of Marian apparitions.

For generations, the image, affectionately called “Ina” by devotees, has drawn pilgrims seeking solace, healing, and divine intercession. | PND

Malacañang on Tuesday assured the safety of former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, one of the central figures in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, once he is brought back to the Philippines to face prosecution.

“Definitely naman, lahat naman ng Pilipino ay dapat safe na bumabalik sa Pilipinas – iyan naman po ang assurance ng pamahalaan. Pero dapat tingnan muna po natin kung saan nanggagaling iyong sinasabing death threats,” said Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro in a Palace press briefing.

A legislator said the biggest challenge in bringing Co back to the Philippines is ensuring his safety, warning that some groups may not want him to return to testify on the flood-control controversy.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday assured the public that the government is taking all necessary and legal steps to bring home Co, who was stopped at the German border after entering from the Czech Republic.

Co was denied entry and returned to the Czech authorities, where he remains in custody.

The President said a high-level coordination team will also be deployed to closely monitor and facilitate the developments.

Co and several others are facing graft and malversation charges before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged flood anomalies in a DPWH Region IV-B project. | PND

The government has rolled out relief measures for truck drivers and shipping operators of agricultural products to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Citing information from the Office of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that among the measures are cutting key regulatory and terminal fees for truckers who deliver agricultural goods.

“Ang sabi niya (Recto) ay naiintindihan niya talaga ang bigat na dinadala ng ating mga truck drivers at shipping operators sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis kaya agarang gumawa ng hakbang sa utos na rin ni Pangulo,” said Castro.

On the orders of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., various government agencies have separately begun providing financial assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators.

At the same time, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) approved a 75-percent reduction on key regulatory fees covering permits, safety certificates, vessel registration, and accreditation, said Castro.

The Palace Press Officer noted that the reduction in regulatory fees is in addition to slashing the annual tonnage fee to just P1 per gross tonnage for Philippine-registered vessels above 15 gross tonnage for 2025, payable in 2026, while fully exempting vessels with 15 gross tonnage and below.

MARINA also suspended the implementation of its January-issued schedule of fees and charges for the period starting April 20, and it will remain in effect for one year or for the duration of the State of National Energy Emergency, unless earlier lifted or revised.

On the part of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Palace official said roll-on roll-off (RoRo) terminal fees were slashed to just PhP1 for vehicles transporting agricultural goods, a drastic cut from the current charges ranging from PhP258 to PhP516 depending on the vehicle type.

In addition, she said the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) tollway operators have waived toll fees for DA-accredited cargo trucks, with the DA expecting to generate over PhP100 million in savings for haulers as a result of the measure. The policy will be implemented for a period of one month starting April 20, 2026.

The MMDA and LGUs, on the other hand, are also exempted from the truck ban on vehicles transporting essential and perishable goods, as well as oil tankers, which may operate at any time. | PND