TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - A total of 37 former rebels from this province who surrendered since the implementation of the Executive Order No. 70 will receive financial aid through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or ECLIP of the government.

Elvie Layus, focal person for former rebels of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) in the province said that of the 61 documents of former rebels submitted for ECLIP validation and assessment, a total of 37 application was initially approved.

Of the approved total number, 12 were regular members of the Communist Terrorist Group while 25 were Militia ng Bayan (MBs).

Each regular former rebel will receive P65,000 from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) while former MBs will receive P15,000 each.

As of writing, the necessary documents of the six of the 37 beneficiaries were already uploaded at ECLIP system.

Aside from the ECLIP aid they will be receiving from the DILG, the Provincial Government through the initiative of Governor Manuel N. Mamba will also award its counterpart to MBs amounting to P20,000 as livelihood assistance.

Children of the former rebels will also receive P5,000 each every year as educational assistance of the provincial government.

According to Layus, a total of 71 former rebels were already employed by the provincial government since 2018 through the Cagayan Employment Assistant Program (CEAP).

Under the CEAP, former rebels will be employed in various offices under the provincial government which is nearest to their residences. Other former rebels were employed as casual employees at the provincial capitol and in different local government units.

On the other hand, the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee has submitted 100 names of former rebels together with their Custodial Debriefing Report ready for interview and enrollment of ECLIP. (MDCT/PIA Cagayan)