(Photo courtesy of DND)
MANILA – The concerted efforts of sectors and agencies, security forces, local officials, and peace-loving citizens resulted in the declaration of Surigao del Norte as insurgency-free, according to Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.
In a news release on Sunday, Abalos lauded the provincial government, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) for their relentless efforts that dismantled the remaining New People’s Army (NPA) forces in the province.
“It is because of the collective action of everyone that we now have the fruits,” Abalos said.
He said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s whole-of-nation approach for peace and development and the interventions of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP), play pivotal roles in the increasing number of surrenderers across the country.
“Linggo-linggo sumusuko na ang halos lahat ng mga NPA (Every week, almost all the NPA members surrendered). They’re weakened at nagigising na ang mga tao sa panloloko ng NPA (and the people are aware of the NPA's deception),” he said.
E-CLIP is a government reintegration program that administers a complete package of benefits and assistance to help former rebels to live with their families anew and become productive members of society.
Abalos attended the ceremonial declaration of Surigao del Norte as insurgency-free on Friday.
During the event, 14 former rebels pledged their support to the government and received a total of PHP904,269 financial and livelihood assistance from E-CLIP.
Earlier, the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Development Council issued Joint Resolution No. 11-2023 declaring and pronouncing Surigao del Norte as a Stable Internal Peace and Security Province or insurgency -free.
The former rebels also received hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and vitamins from the Department of Health-Caraga; PHP10,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Caraga, and PHP5,000 cash from the office of Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers.
To date, Surigao del Norte had already received PHP10.059 billion ECLIP funds for 98 ex-rebels over the last six years.
It also received PHP1.067 billion SBDP funds from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for three cities, three municipalities, and 70 barangays for projects such as farm-to-market roads, water and sanitation, health stations, schools, rural electrification, and others.
Abalos, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., and officials from the local government, police, military and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity signed the Pledge of Commitment to continue and support peace and development efforts in Surigao del Norte. (PNA)
