26 ex-rebels in NegOr avail livelihood kits

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provided livelihood starter kits to 26 former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a ceremony held at Camp Tirambulo, Barangay McKinley, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental last Wednesday.

The livelihood assistance worth P260,000 was facilitated by DTI-Negros Oriental Provincial Director Nimfa Virtucio.

DTI-Negros Oriental recently launched the livelihood seeding program, Pangkabuhayan sa pag Bangon at Ginhawa (DTI-PBG). It aims to uplift and provide livelihood assistance to entrepreneurs, especially micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in areas hit by fire and other calamities, including Ending the Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) areas.

The 26 former members of Militia Ng Bayan (MBs) in Central Negros each received groceries worth 10,000, livestock such as goats and pigs with feed growers and vitamins, and sacks of rice.

The beneficiaries surrendered to the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (IB).

The DTI then assessed their business interests for the assistance.

Lieutenant Colonel Melvin Flores, 62nd IB commander, said in a press statement that the program aims to capacitate and support former rebels who were recipients of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

It also aims to innovate income generating activities that could advance their economic status.

Meanwhile, Colonel Michael Samson, deputy brigade commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade (IBde), said the livelihood kits symbolized a good start of building their future.

Samson said they are hoping for a great change in the lives of the former rebels as they return to the mainstream society.

“We are very thankful that our partner agencies did their part and shared their resources in support of the implementation of ELCAC,” he added.

Guihulngan Mayor Carlo Jorge Joan Reyes urged the former rebels to help the government encourage those in the revolutionary movement to surrender to the government and avail of E-CLIP and other government services. Reyes assured them that the city government is willing to extend their assistance to help them start a new life with their families.