MAYOR INDAY WELCOMES EX-NPA REBS

Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte led the awarding ceremony of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP for former communist rebels on Monday.

Almost 80 surrenderers of the New People’s Army were given benefits through E-CLIP, a program implemented under the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) that give monetary and other forms of assistance to former members of the NPA.

One of the surrenderers joined the underground movement when he was only 15-year-old — a minor.

“These benefits that you received is a testament of how the government sincerely welcomes you back to its arms,” said DILG-11 Regional Director Vicky Sarenas.

Mayor Sara, in her speech reiterated the benefits under E-CLIP, which include immediate assistance of P15,000 cash and P50,000 for livelihood assistance.

Aside from the monetary benefits, the mayor also guaranteed their safety through the help of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, relocation support, PhilHealth enrollment, and cash incentives for firearms turned over to the government.

The mayor also expressed her gratitude to the former rebels for shifting their support to the government.

“Akoang pasalamat sa inyoha sa pagtubag sa panawagan sa atong gobyerno nga mag uban na ta para sa atoang pagpaningkamot para sa atoang siyudad sa Davao.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Inday also said that the city government is eyeing to finish the Kalinaw Village this year, a facility where services will be offered to rebel surrenderers. CIO