CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City – Troops of the Army’s 23rd Infantry (Masigasig) Battalion (23rd IB) facilitated the conduct of a orientation seminar on Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) for former New People’s Army (NPA) rebels at their headquarters in Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte last week, 23rd IB Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer Lt. Roel T. Maglalang, on Monday said.
He said the LSG orientation on Sustainable Livelihood Program Modalities and Processes (SLPMP) was intended to provide livelihood for the former rebel (FR) beneficiaries under Executive Order 70 (EO 70).
Initially, 15 former NPA regulars participated in the LSG orientation from July 8 to July 11.
The orientation was conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-Caraga).
The LSG, also dubbed “Kabuhayan Para sa Kapayapaan”, was implemented in connection with the EO 70 that institutionalized the “Whole-of-Nation” approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace and the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The Order also directed the adoption of a national peace framework issued by President Duterte.
LSG is a financial assistance directly provided to each eligible FR to support the establishment or continuity of their livelihood or economic activities in their respective communities.
The said pre-orientation activity was followed by the crafting of a final project proposal for the sustainable livelihood program of the FRs.
Meanwhile, 23rd IB commander Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, stated that the government and the 23rd IB will always adhere to its promises of helping the FRs to have a productive and progressive life with their families.
He also emphasized the need to capacitate the FRs for them to be able to face the various economic challenges as they begin their renewed lives with their families.
Paulo pointed out that it was not enough to just accept the FRs after their surrender and send them home, but it was also important to equip them with knowledge and skills that will serve as their tools to improve their economic lives.
“Through the implementation of EO 70 and the E-CLIP, we assure that the FRs' lives will be improved through the implementation of the socio-economic program or the financial assistance provided by the government for them to have a sustainable livelihood that they can use to supply the daily needs of their families,” he said.
“For the remaining members of the NPAs who are still running in the mountains, I urge you to go back to the folds of the law and avail all the programs of our government for you, “ Paulo added.