Cagayan de Oro City — Peacebuilders, former rebels (FRs), and government stakeholders convened on the second day of the Kalinaw sa Amihanang Mindanaw: FR & Peacebuilders Summit, marking a significant step forward in advancing peace and reintegration efforts under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (ECLIP).
The day’s sessions opened with a welcome message from BGen. Rolindo M. Suguilon, Regional Director of PNP Region 10, followed by keynote addresses from key national officials: Director Dennis D. Villaseñor of the National Barangay Operations Office, the Director of the NTF-ELCAC Management Office, and Assistant Secretary Katherine B. Lingan of the Department of National Defense (DND).
Villaseñor underscored Region 10’s leading role in reintegration, noting that it has the highest number of former rebels processed under ECLIP nationwide. “These efforts consistently extend government assistance that turns national policies into concrete support and real opportunities for reintegration and peace,” he said.
For her part, Asec. Lingan highlighted the program’s long-term vision. “Through ECLIP, we invest in dreams, families, and communities,” she stressed. “They ensure that the journey from disarmament to empowerment is not just symbolic but a real-life changing experience.”
A ceremonial demilitarization of turned-in firearms became a symbolic highlight of the morning program, underscoring government efforts to reduce instruments of armed conflict and strengthen commitments of FRs to peace and community-building.
The summit also featured a roundtable discussion on ECLIP guidelines led by the Program Management Office (PMO). Key updates included mechanisms to improve inter-agency coordination and a new justification requirement for firearms valuation to ensure accuracy, transparency, and compliance following past audit findings.
During the open forum, participants raised concerns on eligibility, documentation, and financial assistance processing. Officials stressed the importance of due diligence at all levels of implementation to fast-track support for qualified beneficiaries while preventing program misuse.
In his closing message, DILG Region 10 Director Bruce A. Colao reaffirmed the Department’s strong commitment to sustaining peace initiatives. He emphasized that ECLIP remains a cornerstone of the government’s reintegration framework, helping former rebels transition into productive citizens while ensuring accountability in public fund use.
The summit concluded with a renewed call for unity among government agencies, local government units, and civil society partners to work hand in hand toward lasting peace in Northern Mindanao.