CAMP MELCHOR F DELA CRUZ, Upi, Gamu, Isabela – The government is living up to its promise to help the former rebels return to normal life by providing them with jobs and livelihood assistance.
The Cagayan Provincial Government has been the latest to fulfill those promises.
According to the 5th Infantry Division of Philippine Army, the provincial government extended its support and assistance to the former rebels under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Thanks to this integration program of the government, at least 17 former rebels, some of them surrendered last year, are now employed in the Cagayan provincial capitol.
This is under the Cagayan Employment Assistance Program initiated by Governor Manuel N. Mamba.
The Division Public Affairs Office said that most of the former rebels are on job orders and casuals.
The former rebels were given jobs according to their skills and interest to fulfill their tasks and responsibilities.
"Bago natin sila nalaanan ng trabaho sa kapitolyo, tinignan muna natin ang kanilang mga kasanayan at interes para matiyak natin na magagawa nila ang kanilang trabaho ng maayos at mahusay," Gov. Mamba told the Army.
Some of the former rebels were also given livelihood assistance, according to Gov. Mamba.
“Maliban dyan, ang mga anak naman ng ilan sa mga former rebels natin ay entitled to educational assistance. Meron silang natatanggap na tig-P5,000,” Governor Mamba told the public affairs division of PA.
For now, some of the former rebels are undergoing moral and spiritual seminars as part of their reintegration process.
Maj. Gen Laurence E. Mina, Commander of the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division, thanked the province’s chief executive for his utmost support in ending the local communist and armed conflict in Cagayan.
"Your support in our fight against insurgency is a manifestation of the effectiveness of the Whole-of-Nation Approach in Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict,” said Maj. Gen Mina.
Mina said it’s a big help in addressing insurgency in the province.