“Kayo man ay sandaling naligaw ang landas at paniniwala, nalulugod ako na kayo ay bumalik at muling nagpasapi sa ating Gobyerno. Lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa inyong lahat. Nawa’y huwag ninyong sayangin ang pagkakataong ito.”

-Gov. Gerardo A. Noveras

BALER, AURORA. - A total of twenty-three former rebels who surrendered in the Province of Aurora were given a total amount of 1.195 Million pesos financial assistance. The amounts ranging from P 15,000.00 to P65,000.00 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 December 29, 2020, Governor Gerardo A. Noveras, Atty. Ofelio A. Tactac, Jr. CESO V, DILG Aurora Provincial Director, MAJ Sagersanti C. Estrada of the 91IB, 71D, PA, PCOL Raul C. Siriban, PNP Aurora and Ms. Abigaiel Paulino, OIC-PSWDO, led the E-CLIP awarding ceremony for the 23 former rebels at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Provincial Capitol Compound, Baler, Aurora.

 Gov. Gerardo A. Noveras as he gives his words of gratitude and encouragement to the 23 former rebels who pledged their support to the Government

Gov. Gerardo A. Noveras gave his words of gratitude and encouragement to the 23 former rebels who pledged their support to the Government. The governor stated, "Maipapakita nyo sa mga dati ninyong kasamahan Maitataguyod na ninyo and inyong mga sarili sa pamamagitan ng inyong sariling mga kamay at pagod mula sa panimulang biyaya na bigay ng pamahalaan."

Six (6) former rebels were granted an immediate assistance of Php 15,000.00 among many other benefits specified in the E-CLIP implementing guidelines while the other seventeen (17) former rebels were granted with a sum of P 65,000.00 composed of immediate assistance worth Php 15,000.00 and livelihood assistance worth Php 50,000.00. This sums to a total grant of P 1,195,000.00.

In his message, Atty. Tactac emphasized that violence and revolution will not lead to prosperity nor make the lives of the people better. “Ginagawa po ng pamahalaan ang lahat ngunit wala pong perpektong Gobyerno. Walang nakapagpatapos ng edukasyon o umasenso sa himagsikan. Ngayong bagong taon, kayong bumalik sa poder ng gobyerno ay may bagong pagasa at kinabukasn. Kayo ay may may tsansa nang mamuhay na may dangal na hindi umaasa o nagiging pabigat sa mga kababayan na hinihingan at pinagkukunan ng inyong makakain at kagamitan para sa walang saysay na armadong pakikipaglaban."

DILG Aurora Program Manager, LGOO VI Mary Joyce Bautista concluded the awarding ceremony as she expressed her gratitude to the FRS and everyone involved in the program. “We would like to express our sincerest gratitude sa bawat opisinang naging dahilan upang maisakatuparan ang programang ito, sa PNP, AFP, PSWDO at sa ating mahal na Gobernador, lubos ang aming pasasalamat sa bawat isa sa inyo. Nawa’y manatili ang ating suporta sa isa’t isa. 2020 has been a tough year to all of us, but through continued camaraderie, we’ll strive for the better”, Bautista said.