THE East Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) reported that 2,722 former rebels in the region have been given immediate assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Localized Integration Program (E-Clip) since its implementation.
Maj. Alex Mindalano, spokesperson of Eastmincom, said former rebels have received P15,000 each as immediate assistance. E-Clip aims to help the former rebels in healing, reconciliation, reintegration, and protection of former rebels in society.
Aside from the immediate assistance, a total of 2,208 former rebels also received P50,000 each as livelihood assistance. Meanwhile, 2,155 have undergone reintegration with P21,000 financial assistance while 698 have been paid for the firearms remuneration.
“For the housing units, naibigay natin sa ating (we already awarded) former rebels through the National Housing Authority is 366. For the Happy House, meron tayong (we have) 17 completed projects all over Eastern Mindanao kasama na dito yong sa Mahayag, Bunawan (including Mahaya, Bunawan),” Mindalano said during the demilitarization of captured, confiscated, surrendered, and recovered firearms on August 12, 2022.
Mindalano said Happy Home will help the former rebels to cope with society.
“Happy house is a processing center for former rebels prior to the mainstream society, so yong iba na ayaw na nilang bumalik doon sa kanilang mga lugar (so some former rebels who do not want to go back to their place), kasama sa package yong housing (they are eligible to receive a house), so they have an option kung saan nila gustong tumira (so they have an option where to live), then the government can provide the housing project na yon na i-award sa kanila (it will be awarded to them),” Mindalano said.
Meanwhile, Mindalano said that the whole Davao Region is now insurgency free. KSD