TANJAY CITY, Negros Oriental, April 14 (PIA) -- Edna (not her real name), a former member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), received P15,000 and P50,000 as immediate cash and livelihood assistance, respectively, under the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Edna is one of the ten former rebels (FRs) who received assistance worth P65,000 each under E-CLIP, excluding the additional P5,000 cash incentive from the provincial government of Negros Oriental.
“Daghang kaayong salamat sa pagtabang sa amo, ilabi na sa cash assistance na nadawat karon kanamo. Karon tawhay na mi, ilabi na among mga anak na naka eskwela og maayo na skwelahan (Thank you so much for your help to us, especially this cash assistance that we receive. We’re now better, mainly our children are in good school)," the rebel returnee said.
She thanked the government for giving them the former rebels another chance to recover and the opportunities to start anew with additional agricultural support such as a pair of chickens, livestock, tilapia fingerlings, coffee seedlings, and sacks of rice to help augment the families’ livelihood.
“Salamat sa tiwalang ibinigay nyo sa amin, sa gobyerno o sa lahat ng members ng ECLIP committee, di namin sisirain ito,” Edna said.
Undersecretary Angelito De Leon, chair of Task Force Balik Loob of the Department of National Defence (DND), together with the E-CLIP committee, led the distribution of the assistance to the FRs during the blessing and turnover of ECLIP Packages and Halfway House at Camp Leon Kilat, Sta Cruz Viejo, Tanjay City.
“To the former rebels, you have made the right decision. Gusto ko sana hilingin na ikalat natin ang programa ng pamahalaan sa ating mga kapatid na nandun pa sa kabundukan at nakikipaglaban. Marami pang benepisyo ang ibibigay ang pamahalaan,” said De Leon.
Under the E-CLIP, De Leon said that aside from the livelihood assistance, educational and housing opportunities are also provided to the FRs.
A new completed halfway house worth P5 million was also officially turned over to the provincial government at Camp Leon Kilat where FRs stayed while waiting for other benefits from the government.
The halfway house provides a vital role in the integration of the rebels back to mainstream society, while addressing their immediate needs.
For her part, representing Gov. Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes, Atty. Karen Lissette Molas, provincial administrator, fervently hopes that the halfway house and the incentives that the province provided will continue to give FRs the support they needed to bounce back and take control of their lives once again and integrate as productive members of the society.
Philippine Army 302ndIB Commander BGen. Leonardo Pena also assured the former rebels that the Armed Forces of the Philippines will continue to support with the full implementation of the program until they are fully prepared and integrated into the society in order to begin a decent and peaceful life with their respective families.
“Sa mga former rebels, ang inyong pagbabalik loob ay hindi kaduwagan bagkos ang tunay na katapangan ng tao ay masusukat kung paano nya hinarap ang katotohanan at paano nya itutuwid ang maling nagawa niya. Lahat ng ibinigay sa inyo ngayon ay tulong sa inyong panimula upang mabuhay uli ng tahimik at mayapa na alam kong inaasam asam ninyong makamtan,” said Pena.
In the same activity, Philippine Army Visayas Command Commander Lt.Gen. Benedict Arevalo, has encouraged the remaining members of NPA to return to the folds of the law and benefit from the E-CLIP of the government.
Arevalo called on the rebels “mag balik loob, mag bagong buhay, hindi pa po huli ang lahat, hanggat may mga programa ang gobyerno kagaya nito, ay tangkalikin nyo na po at siguradong magkakaroon kayo ng pangalawang pagkakataon na mamuhay ng tahimik kasama ang inyong pamilya.” (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from Stephanie Patrimonio, NORSU Intern)
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