By PR | 11:52 AM June 04, 2021
A total of 29 former rebels received the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) financial livelihood assistance amounting to P1,945,000.00 at Headquarters, 47th Infantry (Katapatan) Battalion in Carmen town, Bohol on Thursday, June 3, 2021.
From the 29 former rebels, 16 of them received the financial assistance from the National Housing Authority (NHA) worth P100,000 each that is intended for their house renovation. While the other 13 former rebels have received a Negosyo Kit from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) worth P10,000 each and also three (3) of them received the cash assistance from the Department of Interior and Local Government worth P50,000 livelihood assistance and P15, 000 worth of immediate assistance each and P20,000 for firearm remuneration.
The turn over ceremony was graced by Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, the Chairperson of Task Force Balik Loob, ECLIP and Amnesty Program Cluster, DND together with Undersecretary Cesar Yano of Capability Assessment and Development (OUSCAD, DND).
Also in the activity were Governor Arthur Yap of Bohol, GM Marcelino Escalada, Jr, general manager of NHA; Provincial Director of DTI Maria Soledad Balistoy; Department of Interior and Local Government represented by Roy Vincent Gaviola; Officer in Charge of NHA Region 7 Engr Hermes Jude Juntilo; Office of the Provincial Social Welfare Development headed by Carmelita Tecson; Lt. Col. Allyson Depayso of 47IB; and Lt. Col. Larry Buansi from the PNP.
Mapagu said that he was thankful that the recipients have decided to return to the folds of law and they did the right thing.
“As you return to the government, it means that maybe you can see the sincerity of our president and his government in governing our country,” Mapagu stressed.
Likewise, Yap ensured that the provincial government would continue its effort in addressing the grass roots of insurgency as his response to the campaign of President Duterte in ending the local communist armed conflict in the country.
Ka Freddie, one of the former rebels,gave his response and expressed his gratitude for receiving such assistance that can help him as he integrate into the society.
“I became a member of the leftist group in Bohol particularly the Talibon- Trinidad Integrated Farmers Association and eventually became a fulltime NPA member. As a member, I experienced some encounters in 2019-2020. Now that I have returned to the government, what I have received today will surely help me start a new life. I am encouraging my fellow Former Rebels to help the government in its programs. And what we had received let us cherish and value. Let us help our neighbor acquire enough knowledge so that they will not be easily recruited. This is how we can help the government”, ka Freddie said.
As a conduit in the implemention of ECLIP, the 47IB will continue to support every government’s endeavor in addressing the grassroots of insurgency to achieve a genuine peace that can be enjoyed by every Filipino, Depayso assured.