SAN LUIS, Agusan del Sur – The Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur continues its support to the twenty-four (24) Former Rebels (FRs) who voluntarily surrendered to the forces of 26th Infantry (Ever Onward) Battalion by granting cash assistance amounting to ten thousand pesos (PhP10,000.00) each through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) Office of Agusan del Sur at PSWD Office, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, ADS, today, April 27, 2021.
The said 24 FRs are intended beneficiaries of the Executive Order 70 (E070), a government policy on “Institutionalizing the Whole-of a-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict” in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace in our country which aims to address the root causes of insurgency to end local armed conflict in the countryside.
The FRs are just few amongst our enlightened brothers and sisters who finally went back to the mainstream of the government and living a more peaceful life since their surrender. “Dako kaayo akong pasalamat tungod sa sunod sunod nga benepisyo nga among nadawat gikan sa gobyerno. Kining maong kantidad daku na kaayo ug gikatabang sa among pamilya aron kami maka sukad sa among pag plastar sa among bag-o nga kinabuhi.”, AKA Rey said.
The PSWD which form part of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) headed by Hon. Santiago B. Cane Jr., Provincial Governor of ADS, generously released the cash assistance to the former members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and Militia ng Bayan (MB) to restore their allegiance to the Philippine government. “We are committed to help and assist the needs of our brothers and sisters who went back to the fold of law in their new beginning. The government will help you in providing what you need to start a new life.”, Hon. Cane said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Reynald Romel A. Goce, 26IB Commanding Officer, praised and expressed his gratitude to the PTF-ELCAC in its active and unending support in implementing the EO70. “The PTF-ELCAC of AgSur is exhibiting its good character by showing full commitment in implementing the EO70. As our peace partners, we are glad working with the Provincial Government in attaining lasting peace in our province.”, he said.
“The government is more than willing to assist those who want to come back in the folds of law. Once they surrender, we will be providing them the government programs and initiatives that would help them in re-building a more peaceful life together with their loved ones.”, Lt. Col. Goce added.
Currently, there are 157 FRs from 26IB. Seventy-four (74) of them already received benefits from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP), 74 await awarding and 9 are for enrollment. The ECLIP is a government program intended for the reintegration of all members of the CPP-NPA-NDF who will surrender and support the peace negotiation program of the government.
