DILG, ECLIP team inaugurate former rebels’ halfway house in CamNorte

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 9, 2020): DILG, ECLIP team inaugurate former rebels’ halfway house in CamNorte (By Rosalita B. Manlangit) 

DAET, Camarines Norte (PIA) – The Halfway House for Former Rebels (FRs) located at Camp Busig-on in Tulay na Lupa, Labo town was inaugurated and blessed here recently through the efforts of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the support of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) Committee in Camarines Norte.

DILG Asst. Regional Director Atty. Arnulfo Escober Jr. said via videoteleconference, that the halfway house for FRs was a convergence effort of the regional, provincial and local government unit.

The shelter costs P5M funded last year by the DILG and was pushed to finish this year despite the pandemic.

Escober said the establishment of the shelter is a convergence effort of the National Government Agencies (NGAs) to assist the former rebels, while the shelter's operations will be handled by the provincial government of Camarines Norte.

USec. Reynaldo Mapagu, Chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) in a videoconference commended the efforts of the provincial government led by Gov. Edgardo Tallado in reintegrating FRs and its continuing support to E-CLIP and other activities of the national task force.

"The active participation of the local chief executives (LCEs) defines the success or failure of the program wherein we rely to them the attainment of government's desire to end insurgency within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte," Mapagu said.

DILG Provincial Director Ray B. Caceres emphasized that the halfway house is a temporary shelter of the FRs while they are undergoing trainings and other programs that the government offered.

Under the E-CLIP, financial assistance will be provided to FRs such as P15,000 immediate assistance, P50,000 livelihood and P10,000 from LGU-Camarines Norte.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Rommel K. Tello of 902nd IB, affirmed that the said halfway house, which is 2nd in the Bicol Region, next to Masbate, is the best in the Philippines in as far as his appreciation is concerned.

He also bared during the press conference that there is no more insurgency-affected barangay in the province adding that with the conducted Serbisyo Caravan-Barangayans’ “Whole of Nation Approach” under EO 70, the government have already reached isolated barangays affected by insurgencies.

A total of 16 former rebels being assisted currently by the government through the ECLIP were also present during the inauguration and blessing. In an interview, Alyas Ka Rigor, Alyas Ka Ding and Alyas Ka Mimoy called on the remaining left-leaning comrades to lay down their arms and re-pledge allegiance to the government.

Provincial Legal Officer/PIO Atty. Don Culvera representing the governor lauded the FRs for their willing response to be part again of the government and the community.

He urged former rebels to consider the halfway house as their home or a place they can “feel at home”.

“Despite the pandemic, this is the good thing that happened, that the former rebels chose the right path” he said.

During the pressconference and forum, TESD Specialist Tobias M. Obrero Jr of Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) expressed its support to provide additional skills training for the FRs with agricultural qualifications fit to transform idle land inside the camp into productive space for agricultural products.

Obrero happily announced that last June 26 this year, said 16 FRs graduated and were awarded with Carpentry National Certificate II (NCII), Tile Setting NC II, Mazonry NCII and Electrical Installation and Maintenance NCII, respectively.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Camarines Norte representative Janet Miranda said they have already conducted social preparation for FRs and has identified project for them. Poultry production site was also established at the camp and has now an allocated budget of P180 thousand.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Health Insurance Inc. (PhilHealth), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and National Housing Authority (NHA), among other agencies concerned, will also provide assistance to the FRs.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Cynthia de la Cruz said that funding for the maintenance of the shelter this year is P761,000 while next years’ budget has already been proposed.

Cruz said that the halfway house will be managed by a center head with house parents. The PSWDO will provide psychological, health, moral recovery and other services in preparation for the re-integration of FRs in the community.

Other guests who graced the inauguration and expressed support to the program were Archibishop Rev. Rex Alarcon, Admin Jojo Francisco of Labo, Acting Vice Gov. Concon Panotes, PCol. Marlon Tejada of PNP-CNPPO, and 9th ID Commander Gen Maj.Gen. Henry Robinson.

The event was also supported by the Philippine Information Agency-Camarines Norte along with quad media from the different outlets in the province. (RBManlangit-PIA5/Camarines Norte)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1058482