140 former CPLAs to be hired as forest guards

By Larry Lopez

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – One hundred forty former members of the Cordillera People’s Liberation Army are set for hiring this month as forest guards  by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Severino Dalutag reported the 140 comprise second batch of CPLA members to be provided temporary work under  the administration’s  offer to provide employment assistance to former rebels. 

Of the 140, 80 slots are offered to Kalinga, while 60 are for Apayao. Last year, the first batch of 65 applicants had been hired under the same program.

              Dalutag said their office is expecting final list of qualified applicants from the Office of Presidential Assistant on Peace Process (OPAPP) before the hiring.

The applicants were required to complete a three-day orientation-seminar given by OPAPP as part of the procedure.

Former rebels employed under the program are evaluated, oriented and screened by OPAPP while DENR provides the work.

Those hired are given monthly salary of P8,000 derived from the National Greening Program (NGP) fund. They  work under a six-month contract, renewable for another six months, based on recommendation of the PENRO.

Former CPLAs hired as forest guards perform regular functions of the position which include forest patrol, conduct DENR road check-points and perform nursery work, Dalutag said.