All barangays in Northern Samar are now free from the influence of guerilla fronts and communist terrorist groups, according to the Department Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
“These barangays are now CTG-influenced free, there are no guerrilla fronts here according to the Philippine Army (PA),” Abalos said.
According to the PA, while there are still sightings of seven roving vertical formations of the New People’s Army in the province, the barangays are no longer supporting these CTGs.
Abalos was in Catarman, Northern Samar where he led the distribution of over P160K worth of livelihood and financial
assistance under the DILG-administered Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration (E-CLIP) program to 16 former rebels.
The 16 former rebels each received P15,000 immediate assistance, P50,000 livelihood assistance, and firearm remuneration.
In his address, SILG Abalos stressed the importance of providing the basic needs of a community such as water, electricity, schools, and well-paved road to usher sustainable progress and peace, after being declared insurgency-free.
“It’s hard when we just leave a barangay alone when the police and army leave. We can only achieve this peace by having these kinds of interventions at the grassroots itself -streets, water, electricity, schools,” he said.
“What is important is that we should be able to sustain these projects that are being done by the administration of President Marcos,” Abalos added.
The Interior secretary likewise lauded Northern Samar Governor Edwin Marino Ongchuan for granting additional financial and other assistance to the former rebels.
The Northern Samar provincial government provided P30,000 remuneration for firearms; housing units; and farmlands for agriculture development; and hired the former rebels as farm workers with a daily wage of P350 each.
Secretary Abalos also met with the members of the Joint Regional Task Force 8-ELCAC to map out strategies to achieve the target of making Northern Samar an insurgency-free province.