NATIONAL SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM

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RESEARCH
(Executive Order No. 70)

Submitted by: Jenny Marie Mejares 1-C

Submitted to: Mr. Fredilson M. Codilla
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) was
formed on December 4, 2018, pursuant to Executive Order No. 70 issued by
President Rodrigo Duterte[2] which institutionalized the government's "whole-of-nation"
approach in tackling the ongoing communist rebellion in the Philippines led by
the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People's
Army (NPA). The "whole-of-nation" approach is contrasted to prior policy which favored
irregular peace talks with communist rebels.[1] The executive order was announced to
the public on December 10.[2]
The formation of the NTF-ELCAC followed the formal termination of peace talks
between the Philippine government and the NPA when President Rodrigo Duterte
issued Presidential Proclamation 360 on November 23, 2017, citing continued attacks by
the NPA despite the then ongoing peace negotiations. The CPP and NPA were likewise
formally designated as terrorist organizations by the government.[3]

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is a task force
organized by the government of the Philippines to respond and raise awareness to the ongoing
communist rebellion in the Philippines. The ELCAC Act aims to make the agency permanent
despite changes in the national leadership and entitled to an annual fund from the General
Appropriations Act.
EO 70, signed in December 2018, aims to “provide an efficient mechanism and structure for the
implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to aid in the realization of collective
aspirations for inclusive and sustainable peace.”
It has 12 national clusters led by Cabinet Officers for Regional Development and Security and is
currently chaired overall by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and with National Security Adviser
Clarita Carlos as vice chair. (PNA)