CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – Thirty-eight New People’s Army rebels who have surrendered to the government have received P760,000 in livelihood aid from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
Army 5th Infantry Division spokesperson Major Jekyll Julian D. Dulawan said the awarding of the E-CLIP livelihood assistance program to the former NPA rebels was held at the Isabela Provincial Capitol in Ilagan City.
The Army 502nd Infantry Brigade processed the assistance for the former rebels.
According to Dulawan, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Region 2 gave P20,000 each to the 38 former rebels.
The awarding of the cash assistance was witnessed by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 2, the Isabela provincial government, and the local government units of Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, and San Mariano.
The 38 surrenderers are from Ilagan City, Benito Soliven, and San Mariano.
“The cash grant will use by the former rebels as start-up capital in ‘sari-sari’ (community convenience) stores or in any farm- raising activities,” said Dulawan.
DSWD Region 2 Assistant Regional Director Lucy Alan said that the cash assistance is intended for improving the lives of the former NPA rebels as part of the programs of the Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Isabela provincial administrator Noel Manuel Lopez lauded the 38 former NPA rebels for returning to the fold of law.
"Thank you very much for returning to the government in which this will lead us for achieving peace and development in the province. The provincial government is always open to welcome you,” said Lopez.