Kalinga halfway house for NPAs nearly done

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- Construction of the P5 million-worth  halfway house for former rebels in the province  is 64 percent accomplished and is targeted  for completion  before  the year ends.

               The halfway house serves as receiving facility and temporary shelter for rebel surrenderees while undergoing reintegration and processing of their enrolment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

Building of halfway house in identified provinces is provided under the E-CLIP of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

                Funding for this facility here was released by the DILG after the provincial local government unit   donated a lot to construct the building.

Kalinga is one of nine provinces already granted P5 million each for the construction of halfway house.

 Under the DILG- Department of National Defense -Joint Memorandum Circular, the DILG is tasked to implement the provision of DILG-administered package of assistance for FRs who were members of the New People’s Army and Militia ng Bayan.

Beneficiaries under E-CLIP are regular NPA members who surfaced on April 3, 2018 onwards and have expressed the desire to abandon armed violence and become productive members of society including their immediate family members. All FRs who surfaced starting July 1, 2016, as well as those who have been processed but did not receive the full assistance under the CLIP may also be provided benefits from the program.

 E-CLIP beneficiaries are entitled to immediate assistance of P15, 000.00; reintegration assistance, P21, 000.00; livelihood assistance, P50, 000.00; firearms remuneration in the amount that is double the cost valuation of turned-in firearms, and Philhealth enrolment under the PAMANA-Philhealth sponsored program.

 The DILG provincial office here reported that three FRs already applied for benefits under E-CLIP. -- JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga