Some 18 former rebels (FRs) in Negros Occidental received immediate reintegration assistance amounting to PHP36,000 each as one of their benefits under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The beneficiaries received the checks in rites led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial director Ferdinand Panes at the Capitol Social Hall here on Thursday.
Lacson lauded the former rebels for choosing peace and deciding to return to the fold of the law.
“The provincial government is always open to help you. Spend the assistance given to you wisely, especially in this time of pandemic,” he added.
The FRs, once belonging to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), were from the cities of Escalante and Bago, and the municipality of Salvador Benedicto.
Panes said he is hopeful the beneficiaries will honor their commitment to the government with mutual respect.
The DILG, along with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police, is always ready to assist them, he added.
The ceremony was witnessed by Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade; Lt. Col. Gerard Alvaran, commanding officer of 79th Infantry Battalion; and Col. Romy Palgue, officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
The DILG is the lead agency in the implementation of the E-CLIP, which entitles a former rebel to receive immediate assistance of PHP15,000; livelihood assistance, PHP50,000; firearms remuneration, PHP12,000 to PHP500,000; half-way house assistance; PhilHealth enrollment and medical assistance; education assistance; housing assistance; legal assistance; and healing and reconciliation initiatives.
The reintegration assistance is being used for the subsistence or meal cost of FRs who have been placed under the protection of government troops while processing their other benefits under the E-CLIP.
E-CLIP is one of the programs under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), a body created by President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Order No. 70. (Nanette Guadalquiver ndb via pna, photo courtesy of pna)