TARLAC CITY — Around 222 former rebels in northern and central Luzon received government financial assistance through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program last year.
In a conference at the Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) Headquarters presided over by Undersecretary Reynaldo B Mapagu, chairperson of Task Force Balik-Loob, with Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo B Burgos Jr, NOLCOM commander, it was disclosed that 222 former rebels received the P15.9 million financial assistance package from the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
Other benefits offered by the different government agencies are the “Pangkabuhayan Package” from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); educational scholarship offered by the Department of Education (DepEd); skills development training offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and housing assistance being offered by the National Housing Authority (NHA).
ECLIP is a flagship program of the Duterte administration that seeks to address social healing and national unity toward attaining a just and lasting peace.
It aims to provide social equity to former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and the Militia ng Bayan to reintegrate them into mainstream society.
Mapagu lauded NOLCOM for its efforts in supporting the implementation of the program.
He encouraged NOLCOM to continue performing its duty by saying that “we must do our share of good governance and use it as the basis of our approach in defeating the communist terrorists in this part of the country.”Burgos acknowledged the importance of the program, saying that “NOLCOM recognizes the significant role of ECLIP in weakening and eventually dismantling the communist terrorist group in our area of operation.”