DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 12 (PIA) -- Members of the Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program (E-CLIP) Committee in Negros Oriental held the groundbreaking of the halfway house for rebel returnees which will be built inside the Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB) Headquarters in Tanjay City.
Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-7) Regional Director Leocadio Trovela, and 302nd IB Commander Col. Leonardo Peña led the groundbreaking and blessing ceremony of the facility on July 5.
The halfway house will serve as the temporary shelter for ex-rebels who returned to the folds of law.
Peña relayed the message of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana during the ceremony as the AFP Chief was not able to attend the activity due an emergency engagement in Mindanao.
“Today’s activity certainly marks the beginning of a new life for our rebel returnees and there’s no better way to welcome them than by offering them a home where they can feel safe and secured as they rebuild their lives around a peaceful and progressive community. As we continue to move forward and further our peace-building efforts, the AFP is looking ahead towards working with its partners and stakeholders in crafting similar programs and projects, thereby creating opportunities for a fresh start to our FRs,” Peña said, echoing the message of Sobejana.
Trovela congratulated the agencies involved in this project, saying that livelihood trainings and other interventions can be done inside the facility to accelerate the integration of former rebels into the mainstream society.
“With this dedication ceremony, the lasting peace in Negros Oriental is within reach because of the demonstrated commitment that we have today,” Trovela said.
Degamo, for his part, thanked the agencies that supported this initiative, namely the DILG, Department of National Defense through the Task Force Balik-Loob, Provincial E-CLIP Committee, and the Philippine Army.
“Upon knowing that this project will be constructed inside Camp Leon Kilat, I did not think twice, because I know that the former rebels will be given much needed guidance and protection from our Philippine Army and Philippine National Police in coordination with other concerned agencies,” Degamo said.
Degamo also sits as the Chair of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF ELCAC) which spearheads the implementation of programs and projects in line with the government’s whole of nation approach to end insurgency.
Recently the task force allocated P5 million for the construction of the halfway house.
The said amount was approved by the members of the Sangguniang Panglalawigan.
302nd IB Civil-Military Operations Officer Capt. Mark Antony Cardinoza said the activity is a manifestation that the national and provincial governments are serious in its efforts to achieve the goal of permanent and peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from the Philippine Army)
