Davao City allocates P5.8 M for ‘Kalinaw Village’ for rebel returnees

DAVAO CITY - The local government has allocated P5.8 million for the construction of a halfway house for New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who have returned to the fold of the law.

Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Carpio said the halfway house will be called “Kalinaw Village”, where surrendered rebels will be housed while they are being processed for reintegration back to society.

Carpio said the fund has been included in the recently-approved P1.2 billion Supplemental Budget No. 1.

While the national government implements the Comprehensive Local Integration Program (CLIP) to provide financial assistance for former rebels, Carpio said a complementary program was needed as not all surrenderees can qualify for the CLIP initiative.

"Gimanduan nako ang 1003rd Infantry Brigade nato mga mo buhat og complimentary program sa CLIP program nga under siya sa local government wherein ma-catch pa gihapon nato tong mga FR na dili mag-qualify,” she said.

The mayor said the money will be used for the livelihood and immediate assistance of P65,000 to each of some 40 former rebels or a total of P2.6 million; P2.530 million for infrastructure; P550,00 for personnel salary; P89,000 for training and seminars; and P85,000 for professional services.

Carpio said the facility will be established near the 1003rd Infantry Brigade Camp in Bunawan District. Aside from the city's funds, the mayor said there will be assistance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for the program's infrastructure needs.

Brig. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr., 1003 Infantry Brigade commander, said the construction of the facility has already started and that it will be managed by a representative from a Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Torres said Kalinaw Village will feature units for safety protection, psychosocial, capability building and employment, home line services, monitoring and evaluation.

“If we determine that the FR (former rebel) can be enrolled in CLIP, he or she can proceed to the next level of processing but if they don't, there has to be a program from the local government that will cater to them,” he said.