The construction of a halfway house for former rebels of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army in Negros Oriental has been completed, and is now ready for turnover to the provincial government.
Farah Gentuya, provincial director of the Department of the Interior & Local Government, said on Wednesday that the one-storey structure was constructed with a P5-million fund.
She said the facility is situated at the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 302nd Infantry Brigade at Camp Leon Kilat in Tanjay City.
The provincial government, the DILG, and the Department of National Defense had signed an agreement for the construction of the facility, she added.
“This is just the first phase of the project and the management and operations of the halfway house will be shouldered by the provincial government, with funds from the peace and order council already allocated for this,” Gentuya said.
Brig. Gen. Leonardo Peña, 302nd brigade commander, said the halfway house will provide temporary shelter to surrendered rebels who are still being evaluated and processed for enrollment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program.
The Provincial Social Welfare & Development Office will be undertaking the evaluation and processing of the former rebels’ inclusion in the E-CLIP, he said.
The blessing and inauguration of the halfway house is set on Nov. 18, Gentuya said. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
