Former rebels receive financial assistance

By Eldie S. Aguirre,
Digos City Bureau Chief

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur — Twenty four former members of New People’s Army (NPA) who surrendered to 73rd Infantry Battalion (73IB) received a total of P305,000 immediate assistance from the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (Clip) and Provincial Assistance from the Province of Davao del Sur during the flag raising ceremony held at Provincial Coliseum, Davao del Sur last week.

In a simple awarding ceremony, Gov. Douglas Cagas, Chairman of Clip Committee, Provincial Director Remedios Baldovino of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social and Welfare Development Office Officer Geraldine Lano and 1Lt. Edgar Oliva, Alpha Company Commander, 73IB handed-in the check of immediate assistance worth P15,000 each to 13 former rebels and provincial assistance worth P10,000 each to 11 former rebels.

Aside from the Clip immediate assistance received by the 13 former rebels, the awardees will also receive their livelihood assistance worth P50,000 each in the coming weeks. The 11 former rebels awarded with P10,000 provincial assistance is still waiting for their Clip requirements to be processed.

Based on records, a total of 103 former rebels from Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Sarangani Province already surrendered to 73IB since last year; 75 of whom already received immediate and livelihood assistance worth P65,000 each with sum amount of P4,875,000, the rest are still being processed.

Clip is a national program of the government that seeks to contribute toward achieving the goal of permanent and peaceful closure of armed conflicts and non-state armed groups, particularly the NPA’s.

“The livelihood assistance awarded to the former rebels (FRs) is a successful collaborative effort of the provincial government, PNP-Davao del Sur and 73IB in support to the unit’s mission and government’s effort of permanent and peaceful closure of all armed conflict in the country,” Lt. Col. Babac said.