GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) released a total of PhP5 million grant to South Cotabato province to assist the development halfway home for former and returning New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.
Aurora Andrea de Pedro, DILG provincial director, said Monday the grant was downloaded by its central office to the provincial government last Dec. 29.
She said they are set to meet with provincial officials to finalize the development plan and the site of the planned halfway home.
“After we finalize all necessary arrangements, the construction of the project will immediately proceed,” she said in a radio interview.
De Pedro said the local government earlier identified as proposed site a portion of a property owned by the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office in Barangay Morales in Koronadal City.
She said such proposal has not yet been finalized as they needed to forge formal agreements yet about the matter with the Philippine National Police (PNP).
“The provincial government has to comply with some legal requirements first, among a deed of donation from the PNP,” she said.
The local government, through a commissioned technical working group, started the preparatory works last year for the establishment of the halfway home.
Ma. Ana Uy, acting head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said they have crafted a development plan for the facility, which would be patterned after the operations of an existing facility in Mati, Davao Oriental.
She said the TWG, which is led by her office, had visited the Mati halfway home to study its management and operation.
The DILG had allotted grants of P5 million to local government units, including the province, that have signified to establish a halfway home for returning rebels.
A halfway home or house refers to the temporary residence that serves as the processing center for former rebels.
The facility could also be used to cater to other individuals in crisis situations such as victims of violence against women and children, juvenile delinquents, former convicts and times of disaster.
As set in the program’s guidelines, the halfway homes will be operated to complement with the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).
The CLIP, which started in 2014, aims to facilitate the mainstreaming of former NPA rebels as productive citizens; enhance capacities of LGUs and national government agencies in the implementation and sustainability of the CLIP; and compensate and remunerate all surrendered firearms, including those coming from the NPA. (PNA)
