Army exec urges more alternative livelihood aid for residents in remote communities

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 17): Army exec urges more alternative livelihood aid for residents in remote communities

General Santos City: An Army official is pushing for the implementation of more livelihood programs in remote areas or communities here and neighboring provinces of South Cotabato and Sarangani in a bid to counter the reported recruitment activities of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in the area.

Lt. Col. Zhalimar Imperial, commander of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion, said they have proven in the past that the provision of proper services and resources to local communities mainly help discourage local residents from joining rebel groups.

In an orientation and planning workshop here on the Interim Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) here on Monday, Imperial said that focusing on livelihood projects will ensure that poor village communities will not be drawn to false promises of the NPA rebels.

“Many rebel returnees would tell us that the promise of Suporta sa Pamilya or Supamil was the main reason why they joined the rebel group,” he said.

The official said most of those who were given such promise ended up not getting anything from their leaders.

With the enhanced interim CLIP, Imperial believes that more rebels will later ion surrender to the government through the initiative.

Imperial expressed his apprehension with the “slow” implementation of the CLIP program in the area and urged the public to participate in the activities of the joint validation and assessment committee (JVAC).

He said the JVAC) helps determine as to who should benefit from the program.

CLIP is a national integration program for former rebels, complementing local efforts of the local government units (LGUs), a program briefer said.

“It applies to regular members of the NPA who have expressed the desire to abandon armed violence and covers former rebels who have surfaced from 2011 and those who have not received full assistance under the defunct social integration program,” it said.

CLIP is currently being implemented by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and in close coordination with the LGUs.

OPAPP conducted the Interim CLIP orientation and planning workshop in South Cotabato to ensure that the program will be properly implemented.

The program is also supported by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which was tasked to take the lead in its implementation.

It noted that the LGUs serve as the local focal point of authority in the management of the program.

Aside from the CLIP, OPAPP is currently implementing the PAMANA-Philhealth sponsored program and OPAPP-CHED study grant program.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=597643