For this year, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far provided assistance to more than 3,700 former rebels (FRs) and their families.
The DSWD vowed to continue providing aid to target beneficiaries of the Executive Order No. 70, series of 2018 or the Whole-of-Nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace and in ending the armed conflict in two tracks, as stipulated in the DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 3, series of 2020.
“Under the First Track, wherein the DSWD provides assistance directly to FRs, the Department has served a total of 3,749 FRs and their families through various programs from January to October 2021,” it said in a statement on Monday, Nov. 15.
The former rebels and their families have received assistance under the following programs: Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Psychosocial Interventions and other Protective Services, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Signed by President Duterte in December 2018, EO No. 70 seeks to institutionalize a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the local communist armed conflict.
The DSWD also reported that under the second track, a total of 226,511 households in communities in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas (CVAs) have been assisted.
The second track, meanwhile, ensures social services for CVAs through programs such as, but not limited to KapitBisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn or PAMANA, Social Pension, and Supplemental Feeding Program.
The DSWD said it also ensured that existing government programs and projects are gender and culture sensitive as part of its commitment in the implementation of EO 70.
It said the member-agencies of the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict underwent numerous virtual orientations on the use of gender and culture sensitivity tools.
The Social Welfare development said the activities “aim to prepare the members and local government units in developing programs that are gender and culture sensitive to ensure equality and inclusivity of marginalized sectors.”
As provided under EO 70, the DSWD has also implemented the livelihood and reintegration program for the Kapatiran members.
“With the issuance of the DSWD Memorandum Circular 17, series of 2021, the Livelihood Settlement Grants allocated to the Kapatiran members will be further enhanced with Reinforcement Grants, as well as the construction of a Child Development Center and complementary Case Management and Psychosocial Intervention for the beneficiaries.”