91 former communist rebels granted P20,000 livelihood aid each
CITY of Ilagan, Isabela – Ninety-one former communist rebels from this province received P20,000 each as livelihood assistance under the sustainable livelihood program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Region 2 at the Provincial Capitol Amphitheater in Alibagu here Thursday, July 21.
They also received Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) cards from Philhealth-Isabela.
Brig. Gen. Danilo Benavides, 502nd Infantry Brigade commander, said that the payout was part of the implementation of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) cluster under Executive Order 70-Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC).
DSWD-Region 2 director Cezario Joel Espejo said that DSWD is one of the key agencies in the whole-of-nation approach to end insurgency.
It has the mandate of extending social protection to the vulnerable sectors like the former rebels.
“Buong loob ang DSWD, iba’t-ibang kagawaran at ahensiya ng gobyerno para kayo ay tulungan, makaahon at makabangon muli (The DSWD and other government agencies are here to help you),” Espejo told the former communist guerillas.
He encouraged them to seek other assistance, including educational, food, and other services as immediate or stop-gap measure to support their recovery when under crisis or difficult situations.
“Sana pagyamanin at gamitin ng tama ang mga programa at benepisyo ng inyong natanggap ngayong araw (I urge you to use the benefits you have received wisely),” said PhilHealth-Isabela head Alexander Arellano.