41 ex-rebels in Panay avail of SIP
As of June 1 2009, there have been a total of 41 former rebels who have chosen to leave their previous lives as guerillas to avail of the Government’s Social Integration Program.
The first batch of 21 SIP awardees received P20,000 each and are currently undergoing livelihood training based on their respective province’s Local Social Integration Plan (LSIP) before receiving the capital goods worth P50,000 each. The second batch of SIP awardees, composed of 20 former rebels, were awarded their initial P20,000 cash assistance yesterday, June 2, at headquarters 301st Infantry Brigade in Camp Hernandez, Dingle, Iloilo.
The SIP is a program that was initiated by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp) to support the AFP’s efforts through its Balik-Baril program and aims to provide former rebels with the needed resources to reintegrate themselves within the mainstream populace.
Those who avail of the program will receive a cash reward for their surrendered firearms, undergo a Livelihood Skills training Seminar, and receive Livelihood Benefits in Capital Goods worth P50,000 each. Since its inception, the SIP has already processed and awarded almost 400 former rebels nationwide.
In Western Visayas, a total of 55 former rebels have already availed and benefited from this program.
“The government is sincere in its belief that providing sustainable livelihood to former rebels will open the way for their reintegration into mainstream society,” the Army press release reads.
The 3rd Infantry Division and its subordinate units all over Western Visayas are openly encouraging those who want to avail of the Government’s Social Integration Program. Col Gerardo T Layug, Commander of the 301st Brigade, expressed his delight at the continued success of the SIP and that through SIP we are achieving our mission in Panay through peaceful means by bringing back our prodigal brothers to the fold.