BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Seventy-three more former New People’s Army rebels in Negros Occidental got financial assistance totaling P1.6 million from the national government.
Each of the former rebels received P20,000 livelihood settlement grants under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development assistance and assorted food items shortly before the Christmas Day celebration on December 23 in front of the Provincial Capitol Building in Bacolod City.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, assisted by Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, P/Col. Romy Palgue, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, as well as representatives of the DILG and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, led the distribution of financial assistance.
Aside from P20,000 financial assistance, E-CLIP Focal Person Jenie Macalipsay said that former rebels also received relief packs containing 10 kilos of rice and assorted canned goods from the provincial government of Negros Occidental.
Alyas Edgar, one of the recipients thanked the government for the assistance they received. He said the livelihood grant would greatly help his family start anew as he plans to use the money to start a small piggery business.
Pasaporte extended his gratitude to the various government agencies especially the DSWD as one of the main and leading agencies in providing sustainable livelihood settlement grants for the surrenderers to help them live a normal life.
He also called on the remaining rebels to return to the folds of the law so they could also avail of the socio-economic and livelihood assistance being offered by the government.
Lieutenant Colonel J-jay Javines, commanding officer of 79IB, said the SLP is part of the other benefits included in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which aims to provide capital for the chosen small business of the FRs which will later generate income to sustain their basic needs.
“The former rebels are now in a better position to generate a sustainable source of livelihood that would aid them to be integrated back into the society and be productive citizens and agents of peace in their respective communities, Javines said.*
