President Rodrigo Roa Duterte led the granting of housing units to 34 former rebels (FRs) in a ceremony held at the Freedom Residences at La Filipina, Barangay Cuambugan, Tagum City, Davao del Norte on July 16, 2019.
“We are giving the former rebels a chance to enjoy and improve their lives together with family in their new “freedom residence” and through the financial benefits that they receive from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP,” Defense Undersecretary and Task Force Balik-Loob chair Reynaldo B. Mapagu said.
The granting of the housing units was processed through E-CLIP and built by the National Housing Authority (NHA). It will be noted that apart from the cash assistance, housing and other benefits such as livelihood training and psychosocial assistance are
among the help that former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and Militia ng Bayan who chose to avail of the program.
Meanwhile, 44 FRs were given initial cash benefits of PhP65,000.00 during the program – P50,000.00 in cash came from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the PhP15,000 as an additional assistance from the provincial
government. Many of these FRs are presently staying in halfway houses in Davao City, Davao Oriental and Davao del Norte, while the others are being taken care of by different battalions and brigades of the Philippine Army in the area.
Also part of the program was the demilitarization of around 50 surrendered firearms that were in the temporary safekeeping of the Philippine National Police (PNP). These firearms were surrendered by the FRs who were given corresponding amount in exchange. Demilitarization of firearms involves the cutting and burning of these weapons to avoid them from being recycled or falling into the wrong hands.
Aside from President Duterte, other cabinet members and government officials who were present during the event include DND Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana; DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año; Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.; National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada, Jr.; Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista; TESDA Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña; Land Bank of the Philippines President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo; Office of the President Undersecretary Nelson J. Estares; Housing
and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Eduardo del Rosario; AFP Vice Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Gaudencio Collado Jr; PNP Chief PGen Oscar L Albayalde; Eastmincom Commander LtGen Filemon T Santos, Jr.; 10th Infantry Division Commander MGen Jose C Faustino Jr; 4th Infantry Division Commander MGen Franco Nemesio M Gacal; Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib; Davao Oriental Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang; Tagum City Mayor Allan L. Rellon and other representatives from the AFP, PNP, LGU’s and other government agencies. ###
