BUTUAN CITY – Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary, Atty. Benjamin C. Abalos, Jr., joined the Caraganons during the Awarding Ceremony of Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) assistance to some 199 Former Rebels (FRs) on October 5, 2022 at Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center, Gov. D. O. Plaza Government Center, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.                                                                        

Checks were awarded to a total of 199 former rebels - 169 from Agusan del Sur; four (4) from Agusan del Norte; 24 from Surigao del Norte; and two (2) from Butuan City.

Institutionalized to help former members of the Communist Party of the Philippine – New People’s Army – National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and the Militia ng Bayan, restore their allegiance to the Philippine government, the E-CLIP provides financial benefits such as immediate assistance, livelihood assistance, firearms remuneration and reintegration support to aid former insurgents back into their communities.

"Meron tayong pamahalaan. Ito ang sumbungan ninyo. Ang pamahalaan na dapat tumugon sa inyo. Yan ang pamahalaan ni Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” said Secretary Abalos as the ECLIP financial assistance was distributed to the beneficiaries. He also assured the former rebels that the Filipino people have a caring government as various agencies do their parts in strengthening peace and order efforts through a whole-of-government approach.

DILG Caraga Regional Director Lilibeth A. Famacion, administered the oath-taking or “Panunumpa sa Pagsuporta sa Gobyerno” of the FRs. Director Famacion also welcomed the FRs to a new peaceful life and reminded them to make full use of all the assistance provided by the government and embrace a peaceful life with their families and loved ones. 

Highlighting the milestones of the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) implementation, a ceremonial turnover of the 27 SBDP Projects in the province of Agusan del Sur was also held led by Secretary Abalos. 

The SBDP is the hallmark program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) with the end goal of bringing peace and development to the former CPP-NPA conflict-affected and geographically isolated communities. (LGOO II Dorothy Jill D. Peros, DILG-Caraga/PIA-Agusan del Sur)