Luna, Apayao – Before its current progressive state, the Province of Apayao was once a lair of the New People’s Army.
Back in the 80s and 90s, developments were hampered and slowed down in the province due to clashes and atrocities of the rebels. It was noted that Apayao was one of the provinces with highest poverty rate in Cordillera in 2013.
With this, Governor Elias Bulut Jr. and Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang together with local officials introduced initiatives like scholarships, army recruitment programs, and livelihood programs that would counter insurgency in Apayao. These contributed to the removal of Apayao from the list of poorest provinces in the country in 2021 and the recognition of the place as the most peaceful province in the Cordillera in 2022.
Among these various programs of the provincial local government include the issuance of Executive Order 22 series of 2022 which provides P500,000 cash grant to surrenderers as they start a new life and P1,000,000 for the death and arrest of a rebel in a legitimate military operations.
These efforts were commended by National Defense Secretary Gilberto ‘Gibo’ Teodoro when he attended the awarding of P500,000 cash to 6 rebel returnees and P1,000,000 cash to the informant that led to the neutralization of a CTG in Flora, Apayao in October 2023.
"Apayao shows genuine care"
“Innak kablaawan iti programa iti ECLIP … ken daytoy iteration iti ECLIP ni Apo Butchi Bulot tapnu maikkan iti baru a gundaway dagitoy kakadwa tayo sadi ruwar, ket isardeng da iti panag-abog iti linteg tapnu maikkan da iti baru a gundaway iti biyag,” he said, emphasizing that the provincial government of Apayao has genuine care to rebels who want to start a new and peaceful life.
“Ibagbaga tayo P500,000 wennu P1,000,000 ited tayo, nangina. Ngem iti saludsud ko, mano iti kandidar iti tunggal maysa a biyag. Awan kandidar a diay. Ngem dayta P500,000 nga inted da tapnu makasubli iti linteg iti kakabsat tayo, that will amount to countless numbers of benefits para iti pagilyan,” he also stressed.
The Secretary of National Defense further underscored that the real ideology needed at the present is unity, progress, technology, connectivity, infrastructure, food security, and energy security.
He wrapped up his message by assuring Apayao of his continuous support and that his office will provide the help that it can give to the province.
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