DAVAO ORIENTAL — Twenty-three (23) former rebels, who have completed their rehabilitation and processing in November, will certainly welcome the New Year happily as they received immediate and livelihood assistance under the government Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) on December 28.
Amounting to a total of P1.5 million, each of them has been given P50,000 as livelihood assistance, and immediate assistance of P15,000. Of these 23 former rebels, 10 of them have separately received payment for their surrendered firearms through the E-CLIP’s Firearms Remuneration Program which summed up to P2,150,000.
Among the latest batch, “Raymund” received the highest firearm remuneration of P518,000. According to him, he was thankful enough for the opportunity given to him to live a peaceful life, even more for the cash assistance he got.
He hopes to use the money to help his family by growing a farm. He also added that the skills he acquired during his stay at Happy Home will surely be useful to realize his future plans.
Apart from the money, three of them were also given housing units at Freedom Village in Tagum City where they can move to as soon as they like.
Vice-Governor Nino Sotero L. Uy, who represented Governor Nelson L. Dayanghiran, led the distribution of checks together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Orle Cababao.
Vice-Governor Uy, in his message, metaphorically said that everything given serves as seeds that need nurturing in order to grow beautifully.
“We cannot give you peace, productivity and wealth. What we can do is support you in any way we can. I can only encourage you to invest wisely the money given to you and bring with you lessons you’ve learned in Happy Home wherever you go,” Vice-Governor Uy said.
With optimism, DILG Provincial Director Orle Cabaobao expressed his congratulations to the beneficiaries and wished them best as they partake on their journey as regular citizens. “You are not your past anymore. Use this experience to become better and productive citizens you and your future children can be proud of,” he said.
Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) is part of the Whole-of-Nation Approach of the government to end local communist armed conflict which is actualized through President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70 and localized by Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang’s Executive Order 13.
The former rebels underwent a holistic integration process that provided them with skills trainings, among other interventions at the provincial government-run Happy Home that prepared them for their reintegration to mainstream society.
With the intensified effort of the provincial government together with the Philippine Army, more rebel surrenderers are expected to yield to the government in the coming months.
Also present in the distribution of checks are the Provincial Head of the Social Welfare and Development Sarah Gudes, and the Civil Military Operations Officer Major Alex A. Alod. | By Shaye Dacles
