MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--The provincial government through the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) will ramp up efforts to help former violent extremists become productive citizens as they reform for good.
During the 3rd quarter joint meeting of the PPOC and Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Council, Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) Provincial Director Mcmillan Lucman presented the implementation guidelines on the provision of assistance under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) which now includes former violent extremists as its beneficiaries.
"For a period of time, walang naibigay sa kanila na mga support kasi wala tayong program for violent extremists. Ito ngayon mayroon na tayong program at least mayroong support na para sa kanila," said Lucman.
[For a period of time, no support was given to them because we don't have a program for violent extremists. Now we have a program and support for them.]
Under the E-CLIP, qualified beneficiaries are entitled to guaranteed safety and security; immediate cash assistance of P15,000, livelihood assistance of P50,000, reintegration assistance of P21,000, firearms remuneration twice the appraised value of their surrendered firearms, and halfway house services.
Lucman said the guideline also mandates local government units to create an ECLIP Committee and steer the implementation of the program in their locality.
In line with this, Police Provincial Director Col. Jibin Bongcayao enjoined local chief executives (LCEs) in the province to support the implementation of ECLIP as this will have a big impact on the fight against local terrorist groups in the area.
103rd Infantry Brigade Deputy Commander Col. Billy Dela Rosa also encouraged the LCEs to support the ECLIP as this will help sustain the gains of the campaign against insurgency.
"This is important to us, in the security sector, this is one way of enticing our violent extremists to return to the folds of the law and start a new life with their families," he said.
In support of the ECLIP, the Bangsamoro government has started rolling out its Project TuGoN (Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit), a humanitarian assistance for former members of local armed groups in the region who have chosen to return to the folds of the law.
Under the program, the beneficiaries will also be receiving capacity development interventions including entrepreneurship development training to capacitate them on starting up businesses, financial literacy, and other important areas of entrepreneurship in preparation for their reintegration into mainstream society as productive citizens.
In July, this year, 25 former combatants in Lanao del Sur already received financial assistance and food packs from Project TuGoN bringing to a total of 52 ex-combatants already profiled and assisted in the province. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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