MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon (July 28, 2025) — The Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP) committee in Bukidnon has stepped up support for the reintegration of former rebels or “friends rescued” (FRs) through the province’s Balay sa Kalinaw program, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen peacebuilding efforts

National and local agencies met during the ECLIP committee meeting on July 15, organized by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Bukidnon, to plan services for FRs and their families.

DILG Provincial Director Rhona Pedraza-Abadilla said the program is intended to provide long-term support for FRs.

“This scaled-up commitment, which includes implementing the second phase of the Balay sa Kalinaw transformation program, underscores the importance of inter-agency collaboration in sustaining peacebuilding and helping former rebels resume productive lives in peaceful communities,” Abadilla said.

The committee discussed the next phase of the Deradicalization and Transformation Program under Balay sa Kalinaw. This initiative, which includes a halfway house, provides psychosocial support, skills training, and other resources for FRs and their families.

Abadilla said services must reach those who previously joined armed groups due to marginalization. She added that through ECLIP and Balay sa Kalinaw, the government is responding to this need.

Her report showed that from July 2018 to the present, 11,606 FRs in Bukidnon have received assistance under ECLIP. Of these, 7,322 received a total of ₱366.1 million in livelihood aid, while ₱175.5 million was allocated for immediate financial support.

Jose Regulos Ortega, project development officer of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), noted the importance of local government units (LGUs) in the program’s implementation.

“Transformation initiatives are already underway through ECLIP. LGUs are leading the implementation at the community level—proof that the government’s whole-of-nation approach is working,” Ortega said.

He also said the committee confirmed its support for the national peace program by focusing on local-level efforts and reaching those affected by conflict.

“The message is clear: unity, healing, and development go hand in hand as former rebels and their families continue to benefit from peace, progress, and a government that listens,” Ortega said. (BGE/PIA-10/Bukidnon)