Date Released: 31 December 2019 Releasing Officer: DIR. ARSENIO R. ANDOLONG Chief, Public Affairs Service Former rebels start new life in Tagum Freedom Residences More than 100 former rebels (FRs), who have surfaced and availed of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), have received their Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on 16 July 2019 at the Freedom Residences for former rebels in Barangay Cuambogan, Tagum City, Davao del Norte. At the time of the awarding ceremony, around 300 units have been constructed. According to the National Housing Authority, however, the area is big enough for 700 units. FORMER members of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) who have surfaced and availed of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) are now settled in their new homes after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte granted them their units in the Freedom Residences in Barangay Cuambogan, Tagum City, Davao del Norte. On 16 July 2019, more than 100 former rebels (FRs) received their Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) from no less than President Duterte himself. DND Press Release | Page 1 of 2 The awarding ceremony was organized by inter-agency Task Force Balik Loob (TFBL), with Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana, Task Force Balik–Loob (TFBL) chairperson Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año, Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon, National Housing Authority (NHA) General Manager Marcelino Escalada, Jr., and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairperson Eduardo Del Rosario witnessing the event. Although only about 300 units had been completed at the time of the awarding ceremony at the Freedom Residences, the NHA said that the area is big enough for building up to 700 houses. During the ceremony, President Duterte recognized the good decision of the FRs to surface and avail of the E-CLIP. He was also pleased that they heeded his call for peace since one of his priorities after he was elected was to seek peace with the CTGs. Aside from the decent and comfortable houses that have been developed for them, the President said that their new community will have a hospital, school, market, barangay hall and other facilities to support their reintegration into mainstream society. He added that they will also be given a source of livelihood, so there will be no reason for them to return to the mountains. The President also emphasized his sincerity in ending insurgency, not for himself, but for future generations of our fellow Filipinos. He also called on them to “become productive, peaceful and law abiding citizens, and go back to school to study.” TFBL chairperson, Usec. Reynaldo Mapagu, on the other hand, gave his assurance that all partners and lead agencies of the Task Force will work doubly hard to ensure that all FRs receive the benefits under the E-CLIP. He added that, at present, “those whose documents are being processed are temporarily housed in halfway houses, which were built by the Task Force, with the support of the local government units.” He added that they are eager to “welcome more FRs and Militia ng Bayan members who will surface and answer the President’s call for peace and reconciliation.” ### /dndphl @dndphl /defenseph DND Press Release | Page 2 of 2 .