The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, or NTF-ELCAC, has reported significant progress in its campaign to end the more than five decades-old local communist insurgency.

In a news briefing on Thursday, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the NTF-ELCAC has established Project Management Offices in various government agencies to ensure a systematic and unified approach to ending the armed conflict.

Año cited the success of programs such as the Support to Barangay Development Program and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, which have played a pivotal role in putting an end to armed conflict.

"The SBDP and E-CLIP have helped to improve the lives of people in conflict-affected areas," he said. "These programs have also helped to convince many members of the New People's Army to lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law."

He also highlighted the importance of the Amnesty Proclamation, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued in July. The Amnesty Proclamation offers a chance for NPA members to surrender and avail of government assistance.

Año said the government's support for the barangay development program and the enhanced comprehensive local integration program has led to an increase in the number of surrenders from armed groups.

He said people are now condemning and repudiating the attempts of the NPA to recover previously held areas.

"So, during the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. we can finally put an end to this local armed communist conflict," Año said.

He added: "I urge the continued support from agencies and our esteemed Congress to ensure the sustained implementation of these programs, further contributing to the journey towards peace and prosperity."

"In line with our pursuit of sustainable peace and development, the Amnesty Proclamation holds considerable significance," he said.

When asked what the government can achieve in terms of insurgency after the end of the President's term, Año said they are now taking a whole-of-nation approach to address the root causes of the rebellion, such as poverty and lack of development in the rural areas.

"We came from the military service, we were lieutenants. We have been fighting against the insurgents, but it seems like it's just repetitive, you know, because there are missing components," Año said.

"We finally found out that the convergence of all government agencies, stakeholders, local government units really bring development and solves the roots of insurgencies in these far-flung areas," he added.