LGU Borongan through its Local Social Integration Program (LSIP), granted 50,000 pesos of cash assistance to 22 former rebels, last Friday, January 28, at the 78th Infantry Battalion Headquarters, Barangay Lalawigan, Borongan City.
The recipients of the program are 19 former NPA Armed Regular and 3 former Milisyang Bayan rebels, who are all residents of hinterland barangays of Borongan City.
The LSIP is a peace initiative of LGU Borongan in partnership with the 78th Infantry Warrior Battalion, that sustains peace efforts via immediate assistance to the former rebels to complement the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG)-administered benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
The said financial assistance aims to help the recipients in starting a livelihood where they can generate income from that will sustain their daily expenses as they strive to go back to the mainstream.
City Administrator Atty. Celestino A. Cabato, speaking on behalf of City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, said in his message, “The Local Government Unit of Borongan City is always ready to deliver basic social services to its less fortunate constituents, especially to our former rebels. We want you to be a role model to entice more active NPA members to surrender.”
Joni, one of the recipients of the program and a former Squad Leader of an NPA platoon, expressed his gratitude, “Ako po ay nagpapaabot ng mensahe sa rebolusyunaryong kilusan na ang alam lang natin na kung tayo ay sumuko tayo ay sasaktan o papatayin ng military. Sa likod ng mga paratang, napatunayan ko ngayon dito na hindi totoo na gagawin nila sa atin yon. Marami na kaming sumuko wala pa sa amin ni isa na binugbog, pinagbantaan, pinatay o ang mga babae ay pinagsasamantalahan. Bagkos, kami ay tinutulungan para magkaroon ng bagong buhay at maayos na pamumuhay. Sa lahat naman po ng mga mga ahensya na nagbigay sa amin ng tulong, nakahanda rin kaming tumulong para sa ikagaganda at ikapapayapa ng Borongan City.”
Colonel Oliver C. Alvior, Commanding Officer of 78th Infantry Battalion, is beyond grateful to the efforts of LGU Borongan headed by Mayor Agda for taking initiative in addressing the decades-long insurgency problem. He also encouraged the members of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) to return to the folds of the law.
“We assure the former NPA combatants of the government’s full support and assistance through the series of reintegration interventions and capacity building under the Local Social Integration Program (LSIP) and Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP),” Col. Alvior said.
78th Infantry Battalion
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