Mt Prov peace zone subject to talks

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Whether this province shall be declared a peace zone or not depends on its constituents.

Mountain Province governor and chairman of the provincial peace and order council Leonard Mayaen bared this following the PPOC meeting Jan. 12 here.

Mayaen said barangay consultations would be held February this year on the issue.

If endorsed, operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People’s Army would not be allowed in the province.

The has a history of NPA and government military forces encounters n communities leading to people’s dislocation from economic activities in their farms and physical harm to residents caught in cross fires.

To address the cause of why rebels join the NPA, the provincial government has implemented a livelihood program for NPA surrenderees.

For this year, P5, 000 is given to each rebel returnee in exchange for rendering social services.

There are currently 22 beneficiaries of the province’s rebel returnee livelihood program.

The governor also cited the incentive program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process for rebel returnees.

The OPAPP gives P20, 000 cash incentive plus P50, 000 capital for livelihood assistance in its Social Integration Program (SIP).

The rebel returnee is also given the equivalent amount of the firearm he surrenders.