DAVAO CITY-– Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa wants the local government units to monitor the projects given to former rebels to enable government to assess their development in the mainstream society.
In an interview with Newsline.ph, Dela Rosa said the projects given to former rebels means their survival and livelihood when they returned to the mainstream society which must improve their economic conditions.
The government has designed a multi-agency approach through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E–CLIP) program wherein an FR is given cash assistance by the government while other agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development provides livelihood package and the Department of Agriculture provides seeds and other planting materials to help the FRs.
“We need to continously assist and capacitate them because once they fail in their new life, they might entertain the idea of going to the mountains again,” the Senator stressed.
Though he said, the package given to the FRs if properly handled by the recipients will really improve their lives and even grow “if they manage it well.”
