The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided livelihood grants amounting to P380,000 to 19 former rebels in Antique to help them reintegrate back into normal society.
The DSWD said each rebel, who returned to the folds of the law in 2020, has received P20,000 under the agency’s Livelihood Settlement Grants (LSG).
"The grants amounting to P380,000 at P20,000 each, will enable the former rebels to engage in livelihood enterprises, such as livestock production, merchandising/retail/wholesale and fishing,” it said in a statement.
"The FRs (former rebels) submitted their project proposals to the Department which were assessed and provided with corresponding budget allocation.”
The DSWD is one of the lead agencies in the implementation of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP under Executive Order No.70, series of 2018 (EO 70).
President Duterte signed EO No. 70 in December 2018 seeking to institutionalize a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the local communist armed conflict.
E-CLIP is the holistic package of benefits that former rebels and former violent extremists can avail of, such as livelihood assistance, medical assistance, education, housing, and legal assistance.
"Integral to EO 70 is E-CLIP which is designed to encourage those within the armed groups to leave the armed struggle and lead normal lives by accessing them to government programs and services to enable them to start anew,” the DSWD said.
It said the creation of Regional Task Forces on Ending Local Communists Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCACs) comprising different government agencies sought the "permanent and peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups.”
"DSWD’s membership to the different RTF-ELCAC Clusters is geared towards the provision of social protection services in achieving the objectives of EO 70 especially to its target FR beneficiaries,” it said.
The social welfare agency noted that the members of the RTF-LCACs formulate plans and executes programs "that will bring inclusive and sustainable peace and address the root causes of insurgencies and armed conflicts in identified vulnerable communities.”
"It seeks to win the hearts and minds of the people by providing them access to government programs and services,” it said