THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip), released P335,000 financial aid to two former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and 10 supporters in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
Oliver Ombos, DILG Zamboanga Sibugay director, said each of the two former NPA rebels received P15,000 immediate assistance and P50,000 livelihood assistance.
Ombos said the 10 supporters, known as Militia ng Bayan (MB), received P15,000 financial assistance each.
“This is spirited part of the government to provide the rebel returnees with the necessary assistance to start their life in reintegrating to the mainstream society,” Ombos said.
E-Clip is the government’s program that responds to the circumstances, needs, and concerns of former rebels through provision of assistance and seeks to consider their basic rights and situations as men and women.
One of the recipients of the livelihood assistance, who requested anonymity, said the financial assistance they received from the government is a big help for them to be able to start a new life and to live peacefully.
The distribution of the cash assistance was done in coordination with the Zamboanga Sibugay provincial governor’s office, Army 44th Infantry Battalion and the DILG Zamboanga Sibugay office. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)