PAGADIAN CITY (Nov. 27, 2019) - Former rebels (FRs) in Zamboanga del Sur will soon have a temporary shelter as they prepare to return to the mainstream of society.
Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Victor J. Yu along with officials of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Philippine Army, led the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the P5million facility for ex-rebels inside the 53rd Infantry Battalion Headquarters, Camp Sabido, Poblacion, Guipos town.
The halfway house will serve as temporary dwelling for former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels while their documents are being processed. It will also become a venue for livelihood education and training for surrenderers.
In a speech, Gov. Yu reiterated the significance of peace and the cooperation of every people in order to attain progress in the province.
He also expressed his pleasure upon seeing the former rebels back to the fold of law.
“The halfway house is where you will stay to let you feel that the government is concerned to do projects for the people,” he said.
The governor also vouched that he will offer incentives to the FR’s if they can convince those who are still operating in the hinterlands to surrender to the government.
Meanwhile, USEC Rene Glen Paje, DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive and Sustainable Peace, said he is optimistic that those rebels who are still in the mountains will have second thoughts once they learned of their comrades coming back to the government in peaceful means.
“Ako’y nananawagan na mag-isip-isip sila dahil yung mga pinaglalaban nila ay patuloy namang tinutugunan ng gobyerno,” Paje said.
The P5 million fund was sourced out from the E-CLIP, a reintegration program of the government formed to help former rebels to encourage those who have remained in the revolutionary work to avail the services that the government has offered.
