MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon – Twenty-three former members of the New People’s Army (NPA), now referred to as “Friends Rescued,” received financial assistance and livelihood support through the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) in Valencia City, Bukidnon, on May 1, 2026

The distribution, held at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
training facility, was spearheaded by personnel of the 1003rd Maneuver Company of the
Regional Mobile Force Battalion 10 (RMFB 10), in coordination with the R-PSB San Fernando
and Cabanglasan Cluster and the Philippine Army’s Alpha Company of the 89th Infantry
Battalion.
Police Brig. Gen. Christopher N. Abrahano, regional director of Police Regional Office 10, said
the beneficiaries were former rebels who previously completed the Shielded Metal Arc Welding
(SMAW NC I) training from August 18 to October 21, 2025.
The 38-day skills training program aimed to equip them with technical competencies to help
them secure employment, support their reintegration into mainstream society, and promote longterm stability.
Each beneficiary received a P6,000 allowance and a welding machine from TESDA as part of
the agency’s effort to encourage self-reliance and sustainable livelihood.
Abrahano emphasized the importance of empowering former rebels through government
initiatives.
“This initiative reflects the government’s sincere commitment to help our former rebels start
anew by providing them with the necessary skills and resources to build a better future. Through
E-CLIP, we are not only addressing security concerns but also promoting inclusive development
and long-term peace in our communities,” he said.
The Police Regional Office 10 reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining programs that promote
reconciliation, development, and lasting peace across Northern Mindanao. (melbmadera)
News groups call for people-centered internet on World Press Freedom Day
MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.Net/03 May 2026) Independent newsrooms across
Southeast Asia marked World Press Freedom Day 2026 with a clear message: rebuild the
internet into a space that serves people, protects facts, and allows journalism to survive.
In a joint manifesto, journalists said the digital space is now working against both the public and
the media. Their main call is simple but urgent — create an internet where humans thrive, not
one controlled by profit-driven platforms.
“Trust is dead on the internet,” the manifesto said, describing how audiences are now secondguessing what they see online.
The statement pointed to the growing spread of false information online, made worse by AIgenerated content and deepfakes. This flood of misleading content, they said, is drowning out
credible reporting and making people doubt even verified news.
Newsrooms also raised concerns about how large tech companies control what people see.
Changes in social media algorithms have reduced the visibility of news, making it harder for
readers to find reliable information.
At the same time, journalists said the business side of news is weakening. Big Tech companies
now take most of the global digital advertising revenue, while some AI systems use news content
without paying publishers. These pressures have led to job losses, shrinking newsrooms, and
even closures of media outlets.
“These challenges are not just about journalism,” the manifesto stressed. “They affect people’s
access to truthful information.”
In response, journalists are calling for concrete changes.
They urged tech platforms to make their algorithms transparent and to prioritize accurate, highquality information. They also pushed for the creation of digital spaces where facts are easier to
find and not buried under misleading content.
The manifesto also called on citizens, communities, and other media groups to work together to
improve the online space.
“Only by working together can we take back the internet,” the statement said, encouraging what
it described as “radical collaboration.”
For journalists, the issue goes beyond press freedom. It is about protecting the public’s right to
reliable information, especially in times of crisis, elections, and conflict.
As newsrooms in Mindanao and across the Southeast Asian region continue to face these
challenges, the message from this year’s World Press Freedom Day is clear: the future of
journalism depends on building a digital space where truth can still be seen, trusted, and
shared. (BukidnonNews.Net)