NAGA CITY (PIA) – So much with community dialogue to conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable communities. The Marcos administration through the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) now shifts and intensifies local peace engagements and streamline government services to provide sufficient and timely community reintegration and transformation for former rebels or friends rescued (FR) as well as their families.
In a series of bridging and planning workshops attended by different national government agencies, local government units, and other peace advocates in this city from August 29 to 31, Ka Domeng expressed his appeal and causes to the delay of delivery of reintegration packages. Other concerns were also raised pertaining to potential threats to peace and security that were already gained in the fight against community armed struggle.
Ka Domeng said in a speech, “Sana po sa ngunyan po matawan po kami su pangako po kan gobyerno na nin hanapbuhay buda pabahay. Dae naman po kami makabalik sa dati ming pinaghalian na lugar ta pag nag-uli po kami duman magagadan na kami (We hope that we are given the promises made by the government; some of which are livelihood and settlement. We could not return to the place we left because if we do so, we would surely die).”
Ka Domeng together with other FRS surrendered in 2017 and have stayed at the receiving unit inside the camp of Philippine Army since then. He pondered on the long period of their anticipated sustainable support from the government.
“Hindi po habang buhay na nandiyan kami… Hinihiling po namin ng aking mga kasamahan yung [training] TESDA na ipinangako sa amin. Hindi ko po alam bakit hanggang ngayon wala pa. Kailangan po namin kasi yun po ang sinabi na magsimula kaming makapagbagong-buhay at hindi na po kami malinlang ulit… Kailangan po naming ng trabaho at unang una po yung pabahay po (We are not going to live there forever. We request for the promised training from TESDA which I wonder why it has not been given to us until now? We need it in order to start a new life, and to not be deceived again. We need livelihood and foremost, housing).”
As a result of the said planning workshop, Cristopher Azucena, OPAPRU area coordinator of Bicol, said at PIA radio program on September 1, that participating government agencies have strategized effective and sustainable interventions and directions for both FRs and their families in a three-year roadmap. Socioeconomic developments including social protection, capacity expansion, livelihood, housing infrastructure baseline projects have been laid down for them.
Various clusters in the government presented their existing programs and projects and formulated streamlined plans, programs and budgets with conflict-sensitive and peace-promoting perspectives that will soon address the existing problem. In the same way, timeline has been determined and accountability learning systems have been established for this endeavor.
Target projects for this strengthened LPEs include focus on providing long-term and income generating training and jobs, access to complete education and scholarships for them and their dependents, inclusive primary healthcare services, psychosocial healing sessions and economical housing areas.
Azucena also said there are still forces of communist-terrorist groups in the country that attempt to recover areas, particularly here in the Bicol region, which have been freed from insurgency due to delay of transformative interventions. Specifically, the provinces of Masbate, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon are among identified areas by the government’s security sectors in need of complete community integration so that CTGs will not penetrate it again.
Furthermore, he said that Cam Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte committed that the provincial government will allot time and effort to look for available lots to construct possible housing areas suitable, safe and sustainable for the FRs. (PIA 5/Camarines Sur)