AFP: Rebel surrenderees to receive E-CLIP benefits

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 28, 2020): AFP: Rebel surrenderees to receive E-CLIP benefits (By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan) 

CALOOCAN CITY, Sept. 27 (PIA) -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) over the weekend said rebel returnees stand to receive benefits provided by the "whole-of-government's" Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP, among others.

During Friday's Laging Handa public briefing hosted by the Presidential Communications, AFP Spokesperson Major General Edgard Arevalo said surrenderees from the New People’s Army will receive cash benefits and sustainable livelihood programs from the E-CLIP.

"Ang Enhanced Comprehensive Livelihood Integration Program ay isang programa na pinagtutulung-tulungan ng iba’t ibang ahensya ng ating pamahalaan. Ang E-CLIP ay tumutulong upang ang mga nagbabalik-loob sa ating sa ating pamahalaan na mga dating miyembro ng komunistang teroristang NPA ay makapagsimula ng panibagong buhay," Arevalo said of the reintegration program of the government.

"Sa ilalim po ng programang ito, may mga assistance na ibinibigay na siya pong humaharap sa sinasabi nating 'possible drivers of insurgency' kagaya ng idinadaing nila," he added, saying that under the E-CLIP certain government programs are used to zero in and address the most underlying causes of rebellion in the countryside.

"Halimbawa, na wala silang pinagmumulan ng kabuhayan, kaya po nandiyan ang mga institusyon ng ating pamahalaan kagaya ng Department of Labor, upang sila ay tulungan," he said of the government's livelihood assistance being provided to rebel returnees.

"Andiyan po ang TESDA [Technical Education and Skills Development Authority] na maaaring magbigay sa kanila ng kaalaman upang sila ay pwedeng maging entrepreneur," he added.

Arevalo said the complete package of assistance to the former rebels would extend to fixing their legal status and providing health and medical services.

"Kung meron naman po silang kinakaharap na kaso, sa pagkakataon na sila ay nandun pa sa panig at sila ay nalinlang nitong teroristang grupo, nandiyan po ang Department of Justice upang sila ay tulungan na harapin ang kanilang hinaharap na kaso," he said.

"[Ang] Department of Health, nandiyan po sila upang ang kanilang karaingang pangkalusugan na sa pakiramdam nila ay hindi natutugunan nang unang panahon, kasama po yan sa tinatawag nating E-CLIP," he added.

To recall, the E-CLIP has been established to pursue a comprehensive, integrated, community-based national program that is locally-implemented to address the legal status and security of the former rebels, as well as their economic, social, psychological rehabilitation needs and provide immediate to long-term interventions that are supported by strengthened institutions to ensure effective implementation and attainment of these desired outcomes.

"Sa madaling sabi, and particularly, sa National Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict, ito po ay isang whole-of-government, whole-of-nation approach upang sa ganon ay maparami pa natin ang mga dating miyembro ng NPA na magbalik-loob sa ating pamahalaan," Arevalo said. (PIA NCR)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1054374