More than 100 former rebels in ComVal get ECLIP benefits

NABUNTURAN, Compostela Valley – More than 100 former members of the New
People’s Army, who surrendered in Compostela Valley, received recently cash benefits from the
Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
 
Held at the Session Hall of the capitol, Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, together with other officials,
handed over the checks worth PhP 15,000 to PhP 65,000 for emergency and livelihood
assistance.
 
Aside from this, 82 former rebels also received additional cash benefits in exchange for the
firearms they surrendered.
 
Provincial Director Noel Duarte of the Department of Interior and Local Government
emphasized that ECLIP aims to persuade the rebels to surrender and lay down their arms.
 
“The objective of the program is really to convince the rebels to go back to the government and
for them to be productive members of the community,” Duarte said.
 
Meanwhile, a former rebel named alias Dats is thankful to the government for taking good care
of him and his comrades during their surrender.
 
Dats recalled that he was part of those rebels, who fought with government forces for 29 years.
He laid down his arms last September 2018 because he already observed the developments in
their community brought by the government.
 
“Tungod kay nakita nako na dili na maayo para sa katawhan ug daghan na ug kadaot ang
nahitabo sa among lugar, maong nag declare ko na magsurrender sa kasundaluhan para
atubangan ang makatarunganon nga serbisyo sa katawhan,” Dats said.
 
For now, some of the former rebels live inside the army camp as they are still undertaking the
activities under the Oplan Pagbabago program of Compostela Valley.
 
“We initiate the Oplan Pagbabago since not all rebels will be under the ECLIP program, and to
address the need to transform the community progressive and peaceful one.