TARLAC CITY A total of 20 former rebels received livelihood and financial assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).

An awarding ceremony was held recently at the old Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall.

Governor Susan Yap said the financial assistance is aimed at helping former rebels start with their lives.

“I welcome all of you back to the fold of mainstream society. The assistance you received is for your livelihood. The government is not your enemy but rather your ally,” Yap said.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Provincial Director Armi Bactad, PLTC Manny Calma of the Tarlac Police Provincial Office, 3rd Mechanized Battalion Officer Lt. Col. Jeszer Bautista, DILG Cluster Team Leader Jeffrey Manalastas and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Robert Magno joined the governor in the awarding of livelihood and financial assistance to the former rebels.

Regular New Peoples’ Army returnees received a total of P65,000 (P50,000 as livelihood assistance and P15,000 as immediate assistance) each and Militia ng Bayan received P15,000 each.

ECLIP is a government program that aims to help rebel members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and Militia ng Bayan restore their allegiance to the Philippine government.