NHA hands over E-CLIP housing

assistance to former red fighters

TAGBILARAN CITY, June 4 (PIA) – In one day, the national government released some P5.2 million housing assistance funds through the National Housing Authority (NHA) as it embraces back some 24 former rebels and their families who have turned their backs on the armed conflict and chose the path to peace.

The turn-over of housing assistance happened at the Camp Rajah Sikatuna in Katipunan Carmen, June 3, and witnessed by local government and army officials.

Sixteen rebel returned comprised of five from Antequera, three from Calape, one from Catigbian, tow from Guindulman, three from Sevilla and two more from Loon each earned P100,000.00 for the repair, rehabilitation and improvement of their existing houses after they swore allegiance to the government of the Philippines and the flag.

Another eight former red fighters: three from Antequera, one from Guindulman, three from Sevilla and one from Mabini, also received P450,000.00 for the construction their new houses in a location they choose, all from the government’s Housing Assistance Program for former rebels.

According to the NHA, the government had two existing programs aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace with internal armed conflict groups: the Comprehensive and Local Integration Program (CLIP) administered by the Department of Interior and Local Government, which seeks to achieve the goal of permanent and peaceful closure of all armed conflicts with non-state armed groups the and the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) Program administered by the by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). This targets community-based development in conflict-affected areas.

But then, with a cumbersome bureaucracy delaying the assistance, through Administrative Order No. 10 which centralizes all government efforts for the Reintegration of former rebels, the two existing programs were integrated in the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

E-CLIP has now become a strategic flagship program that provides a complete package of assistance to former rebels who were members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), New People’s Army (NPA) and the National Democratic Front (NDF), and their immediate family members who have resurfaced, expressed their desire to abandon armed struggle and become productive members of the society, NHA explained.

NHA being a member of the Task Force Balik Loob of the ECLIP, was tasked to provide housing assistance or housing units for former rebels.

Through NHA’s Memorandum Circular Nos. 2019-041 and 2020-061, NHA was tasked to provide housing assistance to former rebels covered by the E-CLIP.

The NHA has three options former rebels can choose: they can avail of a converted unit in existing AFP-PNP Housing projects re-allocated for the former rebels housing program; or an option for cash assistance Php450,000.00 for the construction of a new house in a location chosen by the surrenderee.

Finally, NHA can also facilitate for a maximum of P100,000.00 cash assistance for the repair, rehabilitation and improvement of existing houses owned by the former rebel. (rahchiu/PIA-7/Bohol)