GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is pushing for the opening by next year of a halfway home for former and returning New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area.
Ma. Ana Uy, acting head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), said Thursday they have started the preparatory works for the establishment of a halfway home in Barangay Morales, Koronadal City.
She said South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes earlier endorsed the construction of the facility at a portion of a two-hectare lot donated by the local government to the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office (SCPPO).
She said the project will specifically occupy around 1,000 square meters of the entire site, which was intended for the new headquarters of the SCPPO, she said.
But since the lot was already donated to the SCPPO, Uy said the local government still needs to seek formal endorsement from Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald “Bato” Del Rosa for the use of the lot.
She said the governor has already sent a formal letter request to the PNP chief regarding the matter.
“(But) we’re already in the pre-implementation phase and we expect the project to go full swing soon,” she said.
Uy said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had signified to help fund the construction of the halfway home.
She said the DILG has allotted grants of P5 million to local government units, including the province, who have signified to establish a halfway home for returning rebels.
“One we receive the endorsement from the PNP chief, we will formally avail of the funding from the DILG,” she said.
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.
The DILG issued last June the guidelines that detailed the systems and procedures on the establishment of the “halfway homes,” which is a component of the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP).
The CLIP started in 2014 and 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)
