“Kayo man ay pansumandaling naligaw ang landas at paniniwala, nalulugod ako na bumalik na muli ang tiwala ninyo sa ating Gobyerno.”
-Gov. Gerardo A. Noveras
BALER, AURORA. - A total of fourteen former rebels who surrendered in the Province of Aurora were given financial assistance amounts ranging from P 65,000.00 to P285,000.00 under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) of the DILG which is a flagship program of President Rodrigo Duterte’s peace and order agenda.
On January 9, 2020, Govenor Gerardo A. Noveras , Atty. Ofelio A. Tactac, Jr. CESO V, DILG Aurora Provincial Director, LTC Reandrew P. Rubio, Commanding Officer, 91IB, 71D, PA, PMaj Jun S. Dela Cruz PNP Aurora and Ms. Aida H. Rutaquio, PSWDO, led the awarding ceremony for the 14 former rebels during the conduct of the E-CLIP AWARDING at the Governor's Conference Room, Provincial Capitol Compound, Baler, Aurora.
Ten (10) former rebels were granted an immediate assistance of Php 15,000.00 and a livelihood assistance of Php 50,000.00 among many other benefits specified in the E-CLIP implementing guidelines while four (4) additional FRs were granted financial assistance for their firearms remuneration with amount ranging from P60,000.00 to P285,000.00.
E-CLIP being locally-driven, managed and implemented is a national program that veers away from the past practice of pre-packaged interventions designed at the national level. It 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.
The E-CLIP provides a wide range of benefits which includes Reintegration Assistance (PHP21,000.00); Fire Arms Remuneration (Double-the-cost valuation); Livelihood Materials and Implements or Employment Assistance (PhP100,000.00); Housing (PhP450,000.00); Medical Assistance; Legal Assistance; and College Tuition and Stipend (tertiary level), among others.
In his message, Atty. Tactac mentioned poverty and ignorance as major reasons for joining the communist insurgency. “Pero tatandaan natin, mahirap ang buhay sa bundok. Kinukulang ka sa mga pangunahing pangangailangan tulad ng pagkain at inumin, ang inaasahan lamang ay ‘yon nakukuha sa paghihingi at pangingikil, pamumuhay na walang dignidad. Ngayon ay may may tsansa na kayong mamuhay na may dangal. Maitaguyod and inyong mga sarili sa pamamagitan ng inyong sariling mga kamay at pagod mula sa panimulang biyaya na bigay ng gobyerno”, he stated.
PSWDO Rutaquio concluded the program by applauding the efforts of the DILG for its fast processing of the E-CLIP documents.
