SoCot's halfway house for ex-rebels nears completion

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato is targeting the completion of its PHP5 million halfway house for returning New People's Army (NPA) rebels before month-end, an official said Friday.

Haide Agustin, head of the South Cotabato Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said the preparations are underway for the operationalization of the facility, which is being built in Barangay Tinongcop, Tantangan town.

"The facility is almost finished as the target completion was July," she said in an interview with reporters.

Agustin said the construction started in February through a grant from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which released the funding in 2017.

But the provincial government was not able to start with its development until early this year due to problems with the proposed sites, eventually opting for a portion of its Animal Production and Processing Center compound in Tantangan, she said.  

Agustin said the two-story building is made of concrete at the lower level and light materials at the upper level.

Citing its development plan, she said it will have dormitory rooms, training room, office, and several other amenities.

Once operational, she said the facility will be used as a temporary home for former rebels as they undergo various processes and interventions in line with the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP.

Agustin said they will conduct all activities related to the program at the halfway house, among them the awarding of assistance and livelihood training.

"It will really be a big help to our returnees as they will be getting the necessary assistance and interventions at the halfway house," she said.

She said returning rebels are temporarily housed either in police or Army camps, depending on the unit that facilitated their surrender. (PNA)