TACLOBAN CITY – The top Philippine Army official of Region 8 has lauded the provincial government of Leyte for its support to the Social Integration Program (SIP) of the national government.

Maj. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commanding general of the Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said Leyte is very responsive as far as SIP is concerned, most particularly in providing financial assistance to former rebels who voluntarily surrender to start a new life in the mainstream of society.
The top Philippine Army official of Region 8 has lauded the provincial government of Leyte for its support to the Social Integration Program (SIP) of the national government.

The commanding general appreciated the local government unit’s (LGU’s) support of P7,000 in basic assistance to every rebel returnees in the province, and having them released immediately.

The amount is the province’s counterpart to the P20,000 immediate assistance under the SIP provided by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP).

On top of this, a rebel returnee will also get additional cash if he surrenders with a firearm under the government’s “Balik Baril Program – which is R50,000 for a high-powered firearm and P20,000 for short firearm.

However, before the P20,000 economic assistances are awarded, the rebel returnees are required to undergo livelihood training from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Provincial Agriculture Office, and the Technology Livelihood and Development Center.

Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla, during the recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting conducted here, has asked his financial managers to fast-track documents processing so that rebel the returnees can immediately use their financial assistance.

For this year, the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) reported that 28 rebel returnees have already received their financial assistance from the provincial government following completion of documents with the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee (JAPIC).

A study in 2007 showed the need for involvement of the concerned LGU in terms of monitoring and interventions through programs and projects that will hasten healing and reconciliation.