Empowering LGUs as Partners for Peace: Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. reiterated that local government units play a key leadership role in implementing government initiatives toward peace and development in their communities.

          Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) encouraged local government units (LGUs) - at the provincial and barangay levels, to intensify their efforts in helping former rebels and former violent extremists reintegrate with mainstream society as part of our whole-of-nation approach to ending communist insurgency in the country.

          In an episode of Balik-Loob sa Pagbabago on August 17, 2023, Sec. Abalos noted that the convergence of the government’s counterinsurgency efforts is a game-changer in addressing not only our internal security threats but also the ills of society such as poverty, social inequality, and historical injustice, among others. Thus, the DILG strongly supports and promotes the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and other local social services programs that help the members of vulnerable sectors and marginalized communities. 

          E-CLIP is a government reintegration program that administers a complete package of benefits and assistance to help former rebels to live their lives anew with their families, and become productive members of the society.

          As one of the lead agencies of Task Force Balik-Loob (TFBL), the DILG provides an array of assistance to eligible E-CLIP beneficiaries which includes immediate assistance worth Php 15,000, livelihood assistance worth Php 50,000 (only for regular members of New People’s Army), reintegration assistance worth Php 21,000; and firearms remuneration. It also grants Php 5 million per LGU for the construction of a halfway house.

          The Interior Secretary also emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of LGUs as one of the lead implementers of E-CLIP to provide better service to beneficiaries and ensure reintegration of former rebels to their communities, “The DILG capacitates LGUs on how to better implement, kasi importante ang LGUs, alam nila, maunawaan nila, ano mekanismo, ano strategy, ano guidelines. Alam dapat nila 'yun to better implement this initiative that caters to individuals who decided to abandon this armed struggle and return to the fold of the law and get reintegrated into the mainstream [society],” the DILG chief said. 

          “In short, ang DILG sa pamamagitan ng ating local government, ang probinsya, ang lungsod, hanggang dito sa munisipyo hanggang barangay, sinisigurado namin na lahat sila kasama rito at alam nila ang ginagawa nila. Importante ang reconciliation in a non-violent manner.” Sec. Abalos added.