BACOLOD CITY: The provincial government of Negros Occidental is allocating P15 million, including P5 million from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), to build a halfway house for former members of the New People's Army (NPA) inside the Provincial Capitol-owned Negros Ranch in Murcia town.

'It's a big site (referring to the Negros Ranch). They can even take care of the animals as part of the rehabilitation process. We thought that it is a good area,' Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said during the second quarter meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council at the Capitol Social Hall on Friday.

The councils passed a resolution allowing the province to send a letter of intent, expressing its interest to avail of the P5-million grant from the DILG.

The establishment of a halfway house is being implemented by the DILG under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which provides a package of assistance to former rebels.

The halfway house will serve as a temporary shelter for the rebel returnees while waiting for the processing of their benefits under the E-CLIP.

Livelihood training and other reintegration activities can also be conducted at the facility to prepare the former rebels for their reintegration into mainstream society.

The governor also chairs the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.