FIFTEEN former rebels (FRs) from different cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental received financial assistance worth P15,000 each during the culmination of the Project Development Seminar for FRs held at the Technology and Livelihood Development Center in Bacolod City Tuesday.

The assistance is from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program for Negros Occidental FRs, which is a complementary program of the national government to the local government unit’s peace-building efforts.

Some of the FRs have previously received financial assistance worth P5,000 each and livelihood programs from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.

The FRs expressed gratitude to the assistance given to them and they were told to fully participate in the programs of the government.

Officials present were Second District Board Member Salvador Escalante who represented Gov. Alfredo Maranon, Jr., DILG Negros Occidental Provincial Director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Col. Jon Aying, and Provincial Peace Integration and Development Unit Action Officer Ma. Lina Sanogal.