Ex-NPA rebs get aid from Mt Province livelihood program

By Erwin S. Batnag

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The provincial government here is aiding 27 former New People’s Army rebels through livelihood program. Gov. Bonifacio C. Lacwasan, Jr. signed a memorandum of agreement with the former rebels with their respective barangay chiefs on Jan. 30, 2019 to extend the program this 2020.

Under the MOA, each recipient will receive a monthly honorarium of P5,500 based on actual working days in exchange for community services.

They would either work as a forest guard, reforestation worker, road maintenance man, community worker and other jobs as maybe agreed upon and under the direct supervision of their barangay captain.

The program is under the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. Lacwasan said the livelihood program for former rebels is now on its 4th year of implementation under his administration and on its 9th year since its conception in 2011.

“Every year, we allocate a budget for this program because we are aware of its importance. The provincial government supports your integration into the mainstream of the society,” Lacwasan said.

The governor urged the former rebels to be sincere in performing their functions and follow directives from their barangay captains who are their immediate supervisors.

The recipients were told the program is dependent on fund appropriation of the provincial government.

They were urged to consider the program as a stepping stone while considering to look for better livelihood opportunities.

In relation to this, the provincial government has tapped the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to offer special skills training to former rebels for them to have a bigger chance of improving their livelihood.

TESDA-Mountain Province provincial director Eric O. Ueda welcomed suggestions of the former rebels to be trained on basic carpentry and welding.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and TESDA will provide the venue and schedule for the training next month.

Meanwhile, Board Member Henry D. Bastian, Jr., Sangguniang Panlalawigan Chair on Human Rights, Civil Defense and Peace and Order assured his support to the continuous implementation of the livelihood program.

The former rebels expressed gratitude to the provincial government for making sure that they are taken care of.