DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Oct. 24 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released livelihood assistance worth P16.5 million to 51 communities in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas (CVAs) or 1,141 beneficiaries and former rebels on Oct. 21 in Dumaguete City.
In support of sustainable peace in the country as well as in the province, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) continues to provide assistance to target beneficiaries under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) project, Executive Order No. 70, and Kapatiran programs.
DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive and Sustainable Peace Alan Tanjusay, Assistant Secretary for the Visayas Affairs Evelyn Macapobre, DSWD7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, and Lowel James Cornejo of SLP National Program Management Office together with officials from the local government units led by Gov. Roel Degamo, national government agencies, and Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) led the distribution of checks to beneficiaries.
In his message to the recipients, Tanjusay thanked the local officials for their effort to resolve insurgency problem.
“Ang 1,141 beneficiaryo ngayon ang syang tatayo na tagapangasiwa ng kaunlaran at mga proyekto sa Negros Oriental gayundin kayo ang magsisilbing inspirasyon ng mamamayan na ito. Sinisiguro po naming sa inyo na under the new administration tuloy-tuloy po ang programa na sinimulan ni Pangulong Duterte, tuloy-tuloy ang pagpaunlad, ang samahan para sa kaunlaran regardless kung anung kulay o affiliation, ang DSWD tutulong sa inyo,” said Tanjusay.
He appealed to the recipients to take care of the fund assistance, “invest in your future, you have the resources, you have the government, what we have given you today halungi gid kag giinvest because it would be impossible that the next help will come again.”
In her response, the former Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Bongcayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA-ABB) Tabara-Paduano Group (TPG), which assumed the name Kapatiran chaired by Veronica Tabara thanked DSWD and other local government officials for the assistance.
Tabara or “Ka Inka” has expected also member-recipients of the associations that their proposed projects would expand “kay dili sayon kay uban namong project dili man successful apan naningkamot na mapalambo atung kauglaingon, atung nasud ug makab-ot natu ang long lasting peace (it is not easy just like some of our projects were not successful but we strive to improve ourselves, our country and achieve long lasting peace).”
A total of 853 recipients in 40 conflict areas in Guihulngan City, Pamplona, Sibulan, Sta. Catalina, Siaton, and Zamboanguita were given a total of P12 million under PAMANA.
For Kapatiran, one community of 60 beneficiaries received P1.5 million.
For E.O. 70 or end local communist armed conflict (ELCAC), more than P3 million was distributed for 228 individuals in the municipalities of Ayungon, Bindoy, and Manjuyod.
Macapobre said the livelihood assistance that the Kapatiran has received is proof that the government is committed to help communist rebels to return to the fold of society and adhere to the rule of law. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
