TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - Members of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC), through the Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) Cluster headed by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, recently turned-over livelihood assistance worth over P100,000 to former Anakpawis members in Amulung, Cagayan.
According to NICA Regional Director Plormelinda Olet, the awarding of the livelihood kits is part of the promises made by the RTF-ELCAC members during the Disaffiliation Ceremony and subsequent Serbisyo Caravans held in 2022.
“These livelihood kits will provide the former Anakpawis members a sustainable source of income and to encourage them to completely turn their back from the said organization, living their life anew with the help provided to them by the government,” Olet said, adding that the awarding manifests the government's sincerity in ending the local communist armed conflict by addressing the issues that were exploited by the CTG recruiters.
Olet expressed hopes that the recipients will be able to uplift their living conditions by ensuring that the objective of the program will not go to waste.
For his part, Amulung Mayor Elpidio Rendon thanked the regional line agencies for providing assistance to the former Anakpawis members stating that these will be of great help for their livelihood.
The mayor committed to support all the endeavors of the government for the former Anakpawis members and residents of Amulung.
Meanwhile, PCOL Atanacio Macalan (RET), Provincial Task Force-ELCAC Cagayan Focal Person, called on the former Anakpawis members to be united with the government to achieve a lasting peace.
LTCOL Ramil Alipio, Deputy Provincial Director for Administration of Cagayan Police Office said that the awarding is one way of the government to show that it is really sincere in providing assistance to CTG members who withdrew their support and former rebels who want to go back to mainstream society.
The livelihood assistance, provided by the Department of Trade and Industry, include sari-sari store packages and bigasan kits. (ALM/PIA Region 2)