DAVAO ORIENTAL—Twenty-six former rebels, who are this year’s first batch of beneficiaries of the Provincial Government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), have received reintegration assistance and livelihood package.
In a graduation ceremony held on July 6 at the Happy Home, the processing center for former rebels, they received a check amounting P65,000 each from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
They also received a training certificate, National Certificate level 1, starter tool kit in a form of a welding machine, and P3,000 training allowance from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) after completing the 37-day Shielded Metal Arc Welding under the agency’s Special Skills Training Program.
Congratulating the graduates are Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang together with top officials who include TESDA Regional Director Engr. Lorenzo G. Macapili, DILG Provincial Director Orle A. Cabaobao, 701st Brigade Commander Brigadier General Manuel V. Sequitin, and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Head Sarah D. Gudes.
The former rebels, who are now referred to as the new peace advocates, have expressed their thanks to the government for the score of benefits they have received. In a testimony, one peace advocate shared how he intends to inform other people of this program so that those who are still in the movement will also be freed from the deception of the CPP-NPA-NDF who says that the authorities will detain them if they surrender.
“When we were still in the movement, we were afraid to surrender to the government because we’ve been told that we will be locked up in a cell. And now we have proven that what our superiors told us back in the movement were all lies because we have been treated otherwise. We were even given livelihood assistance and welding machine. I also thank the staff here at the Happy Home because we have been provided with all that we need during our stay here,” he said.
Another program beneficiary, who joined the movement at a young age, vows to prevent recruitment of the youth whom she knows. She said life in the communist movement denied her of a normal teenage life, including education and other privileges a normal teen should enjoy.
“My parents could not send us to school so I was easily deceived by a promise of a brighter future if I join the movement. So, if I know someone who is being recruited to the armed group, I will tell them how hopeless life is in the movement. I may not have gone to school because I am planning to get married now, but at least another young fellow won’t be able to experience the hardships that I faced,” she said, ensuring that she will invest her money to something sustainable as she will be starting her new family with her partner whom she met in the duration of her stay at the Happy Home.
PSWDO Head Gudes, as well as Brigadier General Sequtin have advised the graduates to use their livelihood assistance wisely as they will now be reintegrated back into the community as the provincial government’s “new partners in peace and development.”
“You have been trained on welding and you were given tools so that you can apply what you have learned in your training. Spend your money wisely so that you can start again with your family,” said BGen. Sequtin.
Governor Dayanghirang once again called on to the graduates to help the government convince those who are still involved in the armed struggle to avail of the E-CLIP.
As part of the Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, Governor Dayanghirang told the former rebels to help the government convince their former comrades to go down and surrender.
“Since you have experienced this program yourself, please convince also your friends or even your relatives who might still be in the armed struggle, to surrender. Tell them how good this program of the government is for someone who wants to live life in peace,” the Governor told the graduates. Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
