DAVAO ORIENTAL – The members of the Expanded Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) Committee have discussed interventions for the continuous improvement of the services for the former rebels.
Presided by the E-CLIP Co-chairperson 701st Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army Col. Manuel Sequitin, the meeting held on February 12 highlighted the housing program for former rebels, the strengthening of the E-CLIP advocacy campaign in the local government units, adoption of the best practices of the Columbian Government in the peace and development interventions, among many others.
For the housing program, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental is set to coordinate with the Provincial Government Davao del Norte where the 300 housing units for the former rebels are situated. The committee is set to finalize the list of eligible beneficiaries in the following days.
Mental health and psychological well-being of former rebels are also being considered as one of the most crucial priorities. Recognizing how armed conflict results to psychological trauma to former rebels, the committee agreed to strengthen the healing and reconciliation program. Through a resolution, the committee agreed to prioritize the four LGUs of Lupon, Banaybanay, Caraga, and Manay in the facilitators’ training for the healing and reconciliation capacity development that bids to capacitate more workers in handling former rebels in terms of psychological interventions.
For the further improvement of the services provided at the Happy Home—the first and only halfway house for former rebels in the country, the committee also endorsed the integration of the planned “Bal’lay Duwaan” project that aims for the healing of the sons and daughters of the former rebels. The project was the winning concept of the Youth for Peace Movement Davao Oriental which won 1M Korean Won grant from Hanyang University, South Korea and also won in the Angat Buhay Youth Summit last year.
To further promote mental health, the committee also proposed the inclusion of the armed conflict areas to the Provincial Health Committee Plan.
Partner offices and agencies who are also members of the E-CLIP Committee such as the Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Education, TESDA, Philhealth, Provincial Agriculture Office, and the Environment and Natural Resources Office, among others have committed to provide assistance to the former rebels through their various programs.
Meanwhile, as some of the committee members have studied the successful peace and development interventions of the Columbian Government, the adoption of its best practices in the province has been proposed.
Also, an executive order from the Governor in order to strengthen the E-CLIP advocacy campaign in the city and municipalities is being prepared to intensify the government’s campaign to entice more rebels to surrender and take advantage of the government’s programs for them.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Provincial Director Yvette Tolentino-Sunga led the discussion on the firearms remuneration, the update of the new Happy Home building, and the adoption of the E-CLIP Ordinance to be later forwarded to the Provincial Peace and Order Council and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
