109 NPA surenderers in CAR, Region 2 get DSWD financial aid
By Liza Agoot / Philippine News Agency
BAGUIO CITY – The government has released a total of PHP2.18 million to 109 former members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) who have earlier left the armed struggle and returned to the fold of the law.
Each surrenderer received the PHP20,000 financial assistance on Nov. 6 under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Of the total beneficiaries, 71 are from the towns of Aguinaldo, Asipulo, and Tinoc, Ifugao in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); and 38 from Isabela province in Region 2. The distribution was held on separate occasions on Nov. 6.
Maj. Jekyll Julian Dulawan, chief of the 5ID public affairs office, said the amount is among several other assistance the government gives to former NPA rebels who decided to lay down their arms and renew allegiance to the Philippine government.
The Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the government, which is strengthened by Executive Order 70, focuses on ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) by encouraging rebels to surrender in exchange for a better life with their families.
Under the government’s assistance program, cash, remuneration for surrendered firearms, livelihood, education, and housing support are given to the surrenderers depending on their needs. The assistance first goes thru a process of verification to ascertain the truthfulness of a person’s claim of being a former rebel.
Various agencies join hands in providing different assistance to rebel returnees.
“With the cash grant, the former rebels can now use it as a start-up for sari-sari stores or in any farm raising activities,” Dulawan said.
“JB”, one of the beneficiaries in Isabela, said “malayong-malayo ang sitwasyon ko ngayong nagbalik-loob na ako sa pamahalaan kumpara noong nasa loob pa ako ng kilusan. Hirap at gutom lang ang naranasan ko sa teroristang grupo kumpara sa tinatamasa ko ngayong matahimik at maayos na pamumuhay. Labis ang aking pasasalamat sa gobyerno dahil sa walang tigil na pagkalinga sa aming mga nagbalik-loob (my situation is so much different now that I returned to the embrace of the government compared to my life in the rebellion movement. I suffered and got hungry unlike now when I have a peaceful and better life. I am very thankful to the government for the assistance it gives to people like me who are returning),” he said.
“JM”, another beneficiary, emotionally thanked the government upon receiving the financial aid. She then urged the remaining members of the New People’s Army to surrender to the government.
“Walang katapusan ang aking pasasalamat sa ating pamahalaan dahil sa pagtupad sa inyong pangako na mapabuti ang aming kalagayan. Sa mga natitira pang mga miyembro at sumusuporta sa rebeldeng NPA, hinihikayat ko kayo na ibaba na ang inyong mga armas at magbalik loob sa pamahalaan (I will not tire on thanking the government for fulfilling its promise to improve our condition. I encourage the other NPA rebels to come down from [from the mountains], lay down their arms and return to the fold of the law)," she said.
BGen Laurence Mina, commander of the 5ID Philippine Army, said they will work hand in hand with other government agencies to help facilitate the benefits intended for the former rebels thru the E-CLIP.
“The assistance of the government to the former rebels will give more reasons for the remaining NPAs to surrender not soon, but now. I thank the different government agencies and the provincial and local government units for doing a great job in ending the insurgency in the region,” he said. (PNA)