HOUSING FOR FORMER REBELS. The Department of Agrarian Reform's proposed subdivision plan for a government housing site for former rebels in Basay town, Negros Oriental province. Once approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the subdivision plan will be the basis for the land distribution to 93 beneficiaries, all former members of the New People's Army. (Photo courtesy of DAR Negros Oriental)
DUMAGUETE CITY – A total of 93 former rebels (FRs) in Negros Oriental province have made it to the final list of beneficiaries of a government housing project in Basay town, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here bared on Wednesday.
Manuel Galon, DAR Provincial Agriculture Reform Program Officer, told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that these FRs were already documented and endorsed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) following a stringent validation process.
The former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels are from different towns and cities of Negros Oriental and surrendered on different occasions to the law enforcement authorities.
Galon said the FRs are beneficiaries of the housing project undertaken through the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) in a 13-hectare government land in Barangay Bongalonan in Basay.
The project includes the construction of 100 housing units, each comprising 200 square meters; common areas for sports facilities and spiritual activities; spaces for livelihood training; and a communal farm, he said.
Individual Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) will be given to the FRs for the houses while the other portions and communal farm will be issued as a collective title, he added.
The DAR already submitted early this month to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources the subdivision plan for final approval.
Once approved, the DAR will start preparing the land titles which will be distributed tentatively in September during the project groundbreaking with Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III in attendance, Galon said.
The project has an initial funding of PHP60 million from the provincial government but Galon said more funds are needed for its full implementation. (PNA)
