Former rebels receive aid to start normal lives

DAVAO ORIENTAL — Fourteen former rebels who currently reside at Davao Oriental’s Happy Home have received livelihood assistance from the government as part of its program to aid former rebels in their reintegration into the mainstream society.

Funded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) through the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP), a total of P910,000 was distributed to the former rebels during a simple distribution ceremony on 12 September 2017.

The former rebels received P65,000 each, which was turned over by Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, DILG Provincial Director Yvette T. Sunga and other top officials of key agencies and offices in the province.

Governor Dayanghirang said this aid shows the government’s determination to assist former rebels in their transition to civilian life. He reminded the former rebels to be wise in spending the government’s assistance and encouraged them to use the money only for meaningful investments that would help them to earn and propagate their income. As most of the former rebels are farmers, they plan to invest the assistance received on growing crops, raising livestock, or engaging in a small business like putting up a “sari-sari” store. At the Happy Home– a halfway house for former rebels, they were given hands-on training on crop and livestock production, which is part of the innovation being introduced by the Philippine Army’s 701st Brigade to provide former rebels wider economic opportunities when they get back to the community.

Brigade Commander Col. Reuben Basiao said that aside from these trainings, another salient feature of the facility includes a ten-day political de-radicalization process incorporating meticulously programmed daily subjects and activities. Under this process, the former rebels undergo activities such as gardening, moral recovery, lectures on scores of topics such as Philippine history and socioeconomic theories, and celebrate the Sunday Eucharist. Thirty-year-old Elena (not her real name), a former rebel, said she is excited to go back to her family and begin her new life as a civilian. She said surrendering was the best decision she has made as it led her to scores of opportunities, giving her and her young children new hope for the future. Since 2013, when the Happy Home started to operate, the government has already spent P10.1 million for the livelihood assistance to the total 187 former rebels enrolled under the CLIP. (with Karen Lou Deloso / photo by Eden J. Licayan)