TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Comprehensive Local Integration Program council assigned the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to monitor the implementation of projects provided by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp).

Complaints of alleged irregularities prompted the body to compose a monitoring team to check on those who just received financial assistance for micro business but never invested the money and those who have diverted the money for other purposes.

Gov. Jocel Baac directed the military and police to plan out their monitoring activities and report to the council their findings. “We have to check whether government money is being spent for the purpose of uplifting the economic status of former rebels,” he said, adding there is no use for them to join society if they are not productive through these economic assistances.

Pastor Luis Ao-as, chair of the Kalinga and Apayao Religious Sector Association reiterated the “no dole-out policy,” saying government funds should not just be released to beneficiaries and leave it to them without proper supervision and monitoring. This is to ensure that special projects like what Opapp is giving as a reward on peace gains are implemented and has impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.

“Beneficiaries of projects should be consulted first, establish partnership and that projects during their implementation stage should be regularly monitored,” Ao-as said.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Resurrection Mariano, commanding officer of the 17th Infantry Battalion, said high illiteracy rate, high poverty incidence, and slow delivery of basic services to the hinterlands are among the reasons insurgency thrives in their area of responsibility.