IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – A total of 25 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) have expressed gratitude for the government’s livelihood program that they say has given them economic opportunity as they return to mainstream society.
“This is the beginning of our victory,” Noel Dalagon, president of PEACE, Inc. said, as he and 24 other former NPA rebels completed a two-week skills training on masonry on Monday.
The training was conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in partnership with the provincial government.
Dalagon said they are thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte for the latter’s “sincere commitment to implement “the plans and programs for the rebel returnees.”
The reintegration program is a collaborative effort of national government agencies that included the departments of the interior , labor, public works, trade, science and technology, agriculture, national defense, through the Philippine Army, and TESDA.
Governor Wilter Palma assured that the provincial government will help members of the group find jobs, on top of the PHP3,000 that each of them has received from the Capitol.
“We already talked to contractors and other friends who can provide the needed employment after the training,” Palma told the group, as he reiterated his support for the former rebels, saying that each of the graduates will receive a PHP3,000 cash grant and livelihood kits.
Palma also urged the graduates to convince their comrades, who are still in the mountains, to return to the fold of law “so that they can also avail of the benefits you have received now.”
The governor assured that more skills training are lined up to help the former rebels acquire new skills for employment with the help of TESDA and the labor department.
TESDA regional director, Lorenzo Macapili, told the graduates that the government will “continue to develop more programs to help you live normal lives.”
Another batch of rebel returnees, who will comprise the second batch, will start to undergo livelihood training on Monday.
Dalagon said they named their group PEACE to signify their commitment to return to peaceful lives. (PNA)
