FRs receive gov’t help thru E-CLIP

By Pia Lorraine Francisco

ROXAS CITY, CAPIZ (PIA) -- Five Former Rebels (FRs) in this province received the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) assistance from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) through the Capiz E-CLIP Committee.

The beneficiaries were FRs who surrendered to the Philippine Army (PA) including a regular member of the Communist Party of the PhilippinesNew People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and three Milisya ng Bayan (MB), who have all withdrawn support from the communist group. One of the former members of CPP- NPA, on the other hand, surrendered to → page 7

PBBM pushes for robust R&D...

Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO).

The E-CLIP assistance encourages reconciliation in a non-violent manner of FRs and Former Violent Extremists (FVEs) which provides a Department of the Interior and Local Governmentadministered financial package of assistance, such as immediate assistance, livelihood assistance, reintegration assistance, and firearms remuneration.

Through E-CLIP, CPP-NPA regular members received P65,000.00 each, covering P15,000.00 immediate assistance and P50,000.00 livelihood assistance, while the MBs received P15,000.00 as immediate assistance.

Gov. Fredenil Castro also handed in P10,000.00 for each of the 5 FRs during a simple ceremony at the Provincial Capitol last week as part of the provincial government’s assistance through the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the Provincial Social

Welfare and Development Office.

In a post from the Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade (IB), Brigadier General Micheal G. Samson emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment in providing opportunities for the former rebels as he called on the remaining insurgents to avail the government’s reintegration assistance.

Based on the 301st records from January 1 to August 2 this year, at least four FRs in the province who surrendered have received their respective E-CLIP assistance.

Meanwhile, 20 members of the Communist Terrorist Group and 22 mass-based supporters have surrendered to police authorities based on CPPO data in the past seven months of 2023.

Alias Jan-Jan, one of the FRs, expressed his gratitude to all who helped him avail the government’s benefit package and livelihood start up as he integrates back to live a new and productive life in the society.

“The CTGs and its supporters should not be afraid to surrender because only the government can give them a true and genuine service,” said CPPO director Col. Jerome D. Afuyog, Jr.

For his part, Phil. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division commander Major Gen. Marion R. Sison calls on the remaining terrorists to give peace a chance and give up the senseless armed struggles.

Sison added that the government program will wait for the CTGs return to mainstream society.

“But I will reiterate that for those who insist on being a terrorist, you will cease to exist sooner than later. You cannot hide in the long arms of the law. The army will keep hunting you and make you irrelevant,” he stressed. (AGP/ PLF/PIA Capiz)

8 FRs get cash assistance, kits

By Easter Anne Doza

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) --

Eight former rebels who surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion and the Himamaylan City Police received P10,000 each worth of cash assistance.

The city government of Himamaylan, through the City Social Welfare Development Office, distributed a total of P80,000.00 worth of Cash Assistance to the eight FRs during a ceremony at the Himaya Hall in Himamaylan City.

Executive Assistant Emmanuel V Castro III representing Himamaylan City Mayor Rogelio Raymund I Tongson Jr., together with 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Orlando D. Edralin handed the checks to the beneficiaries.

“I hope that the cash assistance you received will benefit you and your family in living a new life. You all now serve as a living testament to the government’s sincerity to its mission,” Tongson said in a message delivered by Castro.

Aside from the P10,000.00 cash assistance, these FRs also received food packs and personal kits courtesy of the City Task Force- End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) of Himamaylan.

These provisions will aid them → page 8 as they gradually start to enjoy a productive life far from what they experienced when they were yet under the deceptive claws of the CPP-NPA, a release from the 303rd IB stated.

8 FRs get cash assistance...

Edralin said that the Army, together with the local government units in Negros Occidental, specifically Himamaylan City through the City Task Force ELCAC, hopes that with the cash assistance received by the FRs, whom, according to Edralin have made the right and moral choice to return to the government, and that more active NPAs will avail of the many benefits programmed for them upon their surrender.

“We reiterate our call and an all-time open invitation to those who are still up in the mountains struggling to decide now. Approach us, lay down your arms, return to the folds of the law, and avail the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), live a normal, peaceful, and more fulfilled life. A senseless cause and struggle that you are in today will do no good for your family, especially to the future of your children,” Edralin added. (AAL/EADPIA6 Negros Occidental)

Search for Bagong Kalibo’s Model Barangay on

By Sheila Patoza

KALIBO, Aklan -- The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Kalibo through its Sangguniang Bayan (SB) is now searching for the most compliant barangay in the municipality of Kalibo dubbed as “Bagong Kalibo’s Search for Model Barangay 2023.”

The search, which was officially launched on July 26, 2023, is an initiative of SB-Kalibo which encourages, recognizes, and rewards local barangays that can best comply with the five criteria set by the office for 20 percent each.

The criteria are as follows: (1) The barangay has established its own material recovery facility; (2) has zero open defecation; (3) drug free certified barangay; (4) enlisted one percent blood donors; and (5) legislative compliance for waste management and no smoking, road easement and free of road construction, no stray dog and massive vaccination, and clean canal and clean waterways.

Kalibo vice mayor Cynthia Dela Cruz, who led the Office of the Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo and the principal author of the resolution of the contest, said that the search will be an opportunity for the barangays to showcase their innovative ideas and interventions, accomplishments, heroic deeds, extraordinary acts or services in the public interest and other personal efforts which contribute to the efficiency, economy, and improvement in the government operations.

Dela Cruz said that the search will be until November 2023 and the assessment and deliberation, as well as the awarding ceremony, will take place in December this year.

She urged the 16 barangays of Kalibo to participate and take part in the said contest.

Aside from making improvements in their respective barangays, the best compliant ones will be granted incentives that could further help their barangays.

For the Model Barangay first placer, a total of P200,000.00 worth of projects will be given; P120,000 for the second place; and P80,000.00 for the third place.

Meanwhile, LGU- Kalibo also launched recently its “No Segregation, No Collection Policy” of garbage which aims to facilitate recycling and correct onward disposal in the said town.

Dela Cruz noted that such policy is likewise incorporated in the Search for Model Barangay under the Legislative Compliant (waste management) criteria.

The strict implementation of the said policy throughout the town of Kalibo will start on October 30, 2023. (AGP/SQP/ PIA Aklan)