P100K LOAN SA EX-REBELS

LUMAGDA ang Landbank of the Philippines at ang Department of National Defense sa isang Memorandum of Agreement  na magpapalakas sa financial capability ng mga dating rebelde at kanilang mga pamilya para makapagsimula ng bagong buhay sa pamamagitan ng pagkakaloob ng kinakailangang pautang mula sa government bank.

Ang kasunduan ay nilagdaan nina Defense Undersecretary Reynaldo Mapagu, chairman ng Task Force Balik Loob (TFBL), at LBP President and CEO Alex Buenaventura.

Sa ilalim ng MOA, ang LBP ay magpapautang ng hanggang P100,000 sa mga dating rebelde para pondohan ang kanilang livelihood projects tulad ng small and micro-enterprises, agriculture at iba pang pinagkukunan ng kabuhayan.

Maaaring makautang ang mga dating rebelde na may edad 21 at pataas at walang nakabimbing kaso.

“Those disqualified due to age or have pending cases can designate a family member who will be listed as the borrower in their stead. FRs can submit their loan applications to LBP lending units across the country, including proof of identification and certification from the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee (JAPIC),” wika ni Mapagu.

Bukod sa pagpro­seso, pag-evaluate at pag-apruba sa loan applications ng mga da­ting rebelde, ang LBP ay magsasagawa rin ng loan counselling at financial literacy seminars bago ilabas ang kanilang loans.

“The Landbank’s slogan: ‘We help you grow,’ now also encompasses former rebels who wish to increase their capacity in their chosen livelihood, empowering not only himself and his family, but also his community,” sabi ni Mapagu.

“With this signing of agreement, the Land Bank of the Philippines is a welcome addition to our list of partner agencies which will definitely have an important role in our peace and reintegration efforts for our former rebels,” dagdag pa niya.

Samantala, nagpahayag ng buong suporta si Buenaventura sa E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program), at sinabing personal niyang hangarin na maiangat ang pamumuhay ng mga dating rebelde at masigurong hindi sila maghihirap.

“We are happy to provide financing for some 5,000 FRs. Ang source ng lahat ng problema natin sa NPA ay kahirapan. I want to deal with the E-CLIP from that angle, to address the poverty of these people. I will think of our FRs and think of how our agri-business companies can help employ them,” aniya.

Ang E-Clip ay ang programa ng gobyerno para sa mga nagbabalik-loob na rebelde.

“Unlike the rebel reintegration programs of previous administrations, the E-CLIP provides a wider array of benefits based on the particular needs of FRs and their families such as financial assistance, housing, education, skills training, healthcare, legal assistance among others.”      RENE ACOSTA