32 unassisted former rebels to get P.64 million livelihood aid

Calamba City, Laguna (3 August) — Thirty Two (32) unassisted former rebels from Quezon province will receive today a total of P.64 million or P20,000 each livelihood support as part of the government’s previous commitment to communist rebels who yielded prior to the implementation of the Social Integration Program (SIP).

The said former rebels were located and informed about the livelihood grant in their respective communities in Quezon through the efforts of the Quezon Social Integration Committee (QSIC) and with the help from the different MSWDO Officers in the province.

Dubbed as kasama sa reporma (partners in reform) or KRs, the former rebels who come from different municipalities in Quezon will be awarded during the CALABARZON Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting at the Ding-Hao Restaurant, National Road, Halang, Calamba City.

Undersecretary Pedro Cesar Ramboanga Jr. of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) will be represented by BGen. Sergio Belleza (Ret) of OPAPP and Quezon Gov. Rafael Nantes will lead the simple awarding ceremony along with Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary V. Puno, as the Guest of Honor. CALABARZON Presidential Assistant Emiliana Jabola; CALABARZON RPOC Chairman Hon. Joaquin M. Chipeco, Jr. Mayor of Calamba City; M.Gen. Roland M. Detabali, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Southern Luzon Command; and BGen. Jorge V. Segovia, Jr. Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry Division, will be attending the said event.

Also in attendance are:Charleston Tan, SIP-OPAPP Regional Officer for South Luzon; Col. Virgilio M. Espineli, Commanding Officer, 202nd \nfantry Brigade; Ltc. Ernest Marc Rosal, Commanding Officer of the 1st Infantry Batallion; and Ms. Sonia Leyson, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office Head.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the provision of livelihood aid to unassisted rebel returnees early this year upon recommendation of former peace process adviser Sec. Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr.

The amount, which was previously at P12,500 was increased to P20,000.

At present, the government has been providing the said assistance to hundreds of un-served former rebels around the country as part of the closure of the Balik-Loob program, which is the previous rebel returnee program.

The SIP is a process whereby former rebels and their dependents are provided a set of interventions to facilitate their integration into the mainstream society.

To be able to achieve this objective, the program is guided by the principle of convergence and cooperation primarily between the different national and local agencies of the government, national and local government units, non-government institutions or organizations and the community as well. each stakeholder plays a unique role in the integration process.

Through the SIP, the OPAPP under the present leadership of Secretary Avelino I. Razon Jr., spearheads the implementation of the program with the support of the AFP, PNP and other government agencies, the local government units and Non-Government Organizations in the pursuit of genuine and lasting peace in the region. This event is hoped to promote peace and unity among all stakeholders towards peace and development in the area and in our country as a whole. (OPAPP/PIA4A)