The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has appointed National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Chairperson Nancy Alaan Catamco and National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Lead Convenor Secretary Lope Santos III to head its grassroots development and empowerment efforts, placing indigenous communities and basic sectors at the center of its peace and development agenda.
The designation was formalized during the Sectoral Unification, Capacity Building, Empowerment, and Mobilization (SUCBEM) Cluster Meeting in Manila, where leadership of the cluster was transitioned from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to NCIP and NAPC as co-chairing agencies.
NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said the move strengthens the government’s Whole-of-Nation Approach by expanding community participation in peacebuilding and development initiatives.
He said the inclusion of indigenous peoples and basic sector representatives ensures that government programs are more responsive and grounded in local realities, particularly in conflict-affected and geographically isolated areas.
Catamco, a former lawmaker and governor of North Cotabato, is expected to lead stronger engagement with Indigenous Cultural Communities, while Santos will oversee the integration of anti-poverty and social development programs with ongoing peace efforts, representing the country’s 14 basic sectors.
The task force said the leadership shift aligns with the National Action Plan for Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD) 2025–2028, which promotes coordinated efforts among government agencies, local governments, and civil society to sustain peace gains and drive inclusive development.
Officials said the expanded structure reflects a broader strategy that goes beyond security operations, focusing instead on social inclusion, citizen empowerment, and long-term community resilience in pursuit of lasting peace.