'Halfway' house for ex-rebels, militiamen to rise in province

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

LAOAG CITY—A halfway house for former rebels and Militia ng Bayan will soon rise in the province of Ilocos Norte.

Worth PHP5 million pesos and funded by the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Ilocos Norte government represented by Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa ‘Imee’ R. Marcos will be signing a memorandum of agreement with the DILG Region 1 for the construction of a halfway house for former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

According to Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Ramon Gaoat, chair of the committee on social welfare, Ilocos Norte province has been chosen as construction site of the facility which will serve as a temporary shelter for rebel-returnees.

In a special session conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the SP passed Draft Resolution No. 2018-12-310, granting authority to the governor to enter into MOA with the DILG for the establishment of said project.

As of this posting, Mr. Gaoat said the specific location of the halfway facility is still being assessed.

Under a memorandum circular of the DILG, local government units are mandated to provide social services to former rebels willing to go back to mainstream society.

The halfway house serves as the processing center for them while they undergo rehabilitation and healing sessions. Various skills training, livelihood assistance and scholarship grants will also be given to them and their immediate family members as part of the government’s efforts to end the insurgency movement in the country.

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