BACOLOD City — The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental has opened a Halfway House in Barangay Santa Rosa, Murcia, to provide former rebels with temporary shelter and support as they transition back to peaceful and productive lives in their communities.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson led the blessing and inauguration of the Negros Occidental Halfway House, describing the facility as part of the provincial government’s continuing efforts to promote peace, reintegration and community recovery.
The facility will provide beneficiaries with temporary shelter, psychosocial interventions, livelihood training and other support services to help them rebuild their lives and prepare for their return to their families and communities.
The Halfway House is also part of the province’s support for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), a national government initiative that assists former rebels in their transition to mainstream society.
Lacson thanked the beneficiaries for choosing to leave their past behind and pursue peaceful lives, emphasizing that government assistance should extend beyond their stay at the facility.
“The true measure of success is when you are able to return to your communities, live peacefully, find employment, and support your families,” Lacson said.
He described the Halfway House as more than a physical structure, saying it symbolizes second chances, hope, dignity and new opportunities for individuals who have chosen the path of transformation and reintegration.
“The real success is not simply completing the program. It is seeing our beneficiaries return to their communities with dignity, hope, and opportunities for a better future,” he added.
Lacson also expressed appreciation to government agencies, partner organizations and individuals who helped establish the facility.
He said further improvements are being planned to strengthen the Halfway House’s services and provide a more supportive environment for its beneficiaries./PN
