Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’’ Abalos Jr. commended the local offiicals and uniformed personnel assigned in Surigao del Norte following the declaration of the province as communist insurgency free.
In the recent Surigao del Norte insurgency-free celebration, Abalos witnessed the pledge of government support of 14 former rebels where they were granted a total of P904,269 financial and livelihood assistance from the DILG-administered Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
He noted that the amount will be used by the former red fighters to start a new life as normal citizens who abide by the duly-established Constitution.
Abalos explained that the President Marcos' whole-of-nation approach for peace and development supported by DILG’s E-CLIP and Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) have played pivotal roles in the huge number of surrenderees in the country.
“Linggo-linggo sumusuko na ang halos lahat ng mga NPA (Every week most of the NPA members are surrendering). They’re weakened at nagigising na ang mga tao sa panloloko ng NPA (and awakened by the of the lies perpetuated by the NPA),’’ Abalos said..
Earlier, the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Development Council issued Joint Resolution No. 11-2023 declaring and pronouncing Surigao del Norte as a Stable Internal Peace and Security Province (insurgency -free).
The former rebels also received hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and vitamins from the Department of Health-Caraga; P10,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Caraga, and P5,000 cash from the office of Surigao del Norte Gov. Robert Lyndon Barbers.
To date, Surigao del Norte had already received P10.059 billion ECLIP funds for 98 former rebels (FRs) over the last six years.
It also received P1.067-billion SBDP funds from DILG for three cities, three municipalities and 70 barangays for projects such as farm-to-market roads, water and sanitation, health stations, schools, rural electrification, and others.
A Pledge of Commitment was also signed by Abalos, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr., and officials from the LGU, PNP, AFP and OPAPRU as a commitment to continue and support peace and development efforts in Surigao del Norte.
Meanwhile, Barbers gladly accepted the declaration, which, he said, is a historic milestone made possible by “embracing dialogues over discord, understanding over ignorance, and cooperation over conflict.”