MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has last Tuesday, 10 December 2019,  assured dependents of killed-in-action soldiers and killed-in-police-operations officers (KIA-KIPO) of government assistance to attain comfortable lives.

Speaking before the dependents of the fallen soldiers and police personnel during a thanksgiving party in Malacañang, President Duterte said that through the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program (CSBP), they will receive the support they need.

Under the CSBP, the dependents of KIA soldiers and KIPO officers will receive financial, employment, livelihood, educational, housing and healthcare assistance.

And before his term ends, the chief executive vowed to institutionalize the program to cover personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The President also thanked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other concerned agencies for ensuring that the CSBP is implemented properly.

Despite the challenges ahead, the President has expressed optimism that with the steadfast dedication and firm leadership that those organizations have displayed, the government will not waiver on its promise of uplifting the welfare of the people, especially those who have sacrificed their lives in order to protect and serve the country.

The administration will continue to do its best to honor the KIA soldiers and KIPO officers’ memory by staying true to the commitment of upholding the country’s sovereignty, preventing lawless violence and protecting democratic institutions, the President said. (PND/IAMIGO/CNS)