10 ex-rebels in CV to get aid under ECLIP

CEBU CITY, Cebu, March 29 (PIA) -- The Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 7 (DILG7) announced that they will be extending assistance to 10 former members of the New People’s Army from Negros Oriental under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

The ECLIP is a package of financial inducements designed to encourage members of a communist terrorist group (CTG) to return to the folds of the law and begin a peaceful life anew, together with their respective families.

During the Kapihan sa PIA conducted by the Philippine Information Agency 7 on March 29, the DILG-7 said that for the first quarter of 2023, 10 former rebels in Central Visayas are set to receive various benefits and assistance under the said flagship program of the department.

Among the assistance that will be given to the beneficiaries are immediate assistance worth P15,000 that is intended for mobilization expenses while former rebels are waiting for the processing of their program enrollment, and a livelihood assistance worth P50,000 as well as an reintegration assistance worth P21,000.

For this, former rebels can get a total of P86,000 worth of assistance to be received individually.

Apart from these monetary assistance programs, former rebels can also avail themselves of other government services such as PhilHealth enrollment, registration with other government entities, services at the halfway house, and healing and reconciliation initiatives.

In line with the distribution of various forms of assistance, the DILG has urged communist rebels to surrender and avail themselves of the government’s assistance and services.

"Sa atong mga kaigsuonan mi awhag mi ninyu nga dili pa gyud too late nga mobalik ta diri sa atong gobyerno (It is not too late for them to return to the folds of the law)," said DILG7 Information Officer and Alternate ECLIP Focal Person Charles Albert Caayaman in the same forum. 

"Ang atong gobyerno anaa pirme ug andam nga mo extend og assistance kaninyu mao nang ayaw ni sayangi nga opportunity labi nasab nga dili rani para sa inyung kaugalingon kundi para sad sa inyung mga anak (Our government is always ready to extend assistance to you, so don't waste this opportunity which is not only for you but for your children as well," Caayaman added. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)

(Center, L-R): DILG-7 LGOO II and Regional Information Officer Designate Richiel Chavez, PRO-7 RCADD Asst. Division Chief PLtCol. Carlos Lacuesta Jr., and DILG-7 Information Officer and Alternate ECLIP Focal Person Charles Albert Caayaman during the Kapihan sa PIA program on March 29 where they discussed the latest programs and services implemented under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. (Screenshot via PIA7 FB Live)