Tacloban City (March 6) --- Thirty-three former rebels in Leyte who have returned into the folds of the law and are now enrolled at the Social Integration Program, formally received their respective livelihood package in an awarding ceremony on February 27, 2009 at 1:30 to 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon.

2Lt. Gabriel Aranez, information officer of the 19th Infantry Battalion informed that awarding ceremony will be conducted at the SIP Halfway House, Headquarters of the 19th Infantry Battalion, at Barangay Aguiting, Kananga, Leyte.

The awarding ceremony was the culmination of the livelihood training of the former rebels who will be given the livelihood package to put into practice what they have learned during the livelihood training, as part of their reintegration into society.

Among the livelihood package which will be given are carabaos, goats, cow, pedicabs, capital for a flower growing project, generator, sarisari store, motorcycle, and "daro."

Hon. Pedro Cesar C. Ramboanga, Jr., Undersecretary of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process will lead the awarding of certificates of completion of livelihood training an certificates of livelihood package. He will be assisted by the peace and development partners present.

The former rebels were formally accepted into the government's social integration program during the formal reception ceremonies conducted at the Municipal Gym of Kananga, Leyte on December 3, 2008.

On March 23, 2007, the National Committee on Social Integration was created to implement the Social Integration Program.

The Social Integration Program is a process whereby former rebels and their dependents are provided a set of interventions to facilitate their integration into mainstream society. The program provides an increased remuneration for surrendered firearms, explosives and ammunitions.

The program also provides immediate cash assistance of P20,000 each while the former rebels undergo the process requirements for the grant of socio-economic interventions. The Socio-Economic interventions in the amount of P50,000. Is in the form of capital goods.

Convergent efforts with other agencies are exerted for the former rebels' livelihood skills development, job placement, educational assistance, health services, "balik-probinsiya" or access to other basic social services.