Former rebs to receive funds under gov’t program

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- Qualified former rebel combatants will receive livelihood assistance under the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) which is now under local governments.

The Department of Interior and Local Government meanwhile, will perform oversight functions, assist in resource mobilization, capacity building support, monitoring and evaluation, policy direction.

Early this year, four livelihood projects of individual rebel returnees (RRs) in the province were approved by the Office of the Presidential Assistance on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and their checks of P50,000 each are now with the provincial social welfare and development office (PSWDO) ready for release.

Bing Haddac of PSWDO and program coordinator said the proposals totaling P200,000 are all on rice production aimed at increasing domestic production of the staple food for the consumption of the RRs’ families.

She said 15 proposals were submitted, however, only four were approved. “We are awaiting the approval of the other proposals. We can’t say this time if OPAPP will approve them all since they are subject for evaluation as to their feasibility and viability,” Haddac said.

The proponents, whose proposals were approved are Jeffrey Tubban and Reginald Diwayan of Mabaca, Balbalan; Fernan Wanson and Simeon Singic also both of Isla, San Juan, this city.

Haddac said these beneficiaries are the first recipients of this year’s CLIP under the Aquino administration which only covers former rebels who surrendered January 2011 to present; had not benefited in the past reintegration programs, and those who had complete documents such as joint validation and authentication committee (JVAC) and profile.

The JVAC committee is composed of the provincial governor as chairman and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, PSWDO, and an accredited civil society organization as members. -- PIA