CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – A total of 183 former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels received financial assistance from the government in Bukidnon province.
Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade Capt. Rene M. Belmonte, Jr. told The Manila Bulletin on Thursday that the former NPAs received their financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in two separate activities in Bukidnon province.
DSWD-10, under its program Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), distributed financial assistance amounting to P8,000 per former rebel (FR) or a total of P9.28 million for the 116 former rebels, in addition to the financial benefits provided by the government under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
“These ex-rebels received their financial assistance during a ceremony held at the headquarters of 403rd Brigade, Barangay 10, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province,” Belmonte said.
During the ceremony, DSWD 10 Regional Director Mari-flor Dollaga-Libang said: “I am very thankful that you have surfaced, abandoned armed struggle and become productive members of society, and the government thru the DSWD will always be here to support you and your family.”
The official and her team, along with the command group of the 403rd Brigade also turned over over individual sleeping kits to each former rebel.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) also extended P2.532 million worth of financial assistance thru the E-CLIP, composed of livelihood and firearm remuneration to 67 former NPAs in that same province.
During ceremony held at Kaamulan Folk Arts Theater, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, recently, all 67 ex-NPA rebels have received the P15,000 immediate assistance for a total amount of P1.005 million, livelihood assistance amounting to P50,000 for a total amount of P1.5 million to 30 former rebels and firearms remuneration amounting to P27,000 to four others.