PANTUKAN, DAVAO DE ORO -- For decades, these sun-burnt men patrolled the fringes of this hinterland municipality, engaging government forces as they fought for their right to self-determination.
However, those days of fighting are over, as these former mujahedeen have turned away from armed struggle and are now waging a different battle -- one that seeks to improve the economic well-being of their people and communities.
The transition of these grizzled warriors as productive members of society has been nothing but inspiring, as they are demonstrating that good things come to those who choose the path of peace and development.
And as they lay down their arms and embrace a peaceful way of life, they have found a new calling -- as Halal meat producers.
Pioneering Halal project
Last week, almost 200 of these former MILF combatants became the beneficiaries of a livelihood project jointly spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The project called “Halal Meat Shop and Abattoir Project” is the result of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed between OPAPP and DTI that aims to provide socio-economic interventions to these combatants-turned-entrepreneurs.
This initiative is part of the socioeconomic development component of the normalization track under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which aims to provide sustainable livelihood programs for decommissioned MILF combatants and their families.
Funded by OPAPP, the Halal livelihood project is being carried out through DTI’s Peaceful Return and Aggressive Inclusion Social Entrepreneurship (PRAISE) under the Inter Cabinet Cluster Mechanism on Normalization (ICCMN).
The project beneficiaries are members of five MILF-led cooperatives based in the Davao Region.
These cooperatives include the Davao Oriental Bangsamoro Halal Producers Cooperative, Davao De Oro Bangsamoro Cooperative, Davao Del Norte Bangsamoro Halal Producers Cooperative, Davao Bangsamoro Producers Cooperative and Davao Del Sur Bangsamoro Halal Producers Cooperative.
Under the project, each cooperative received a meat freezer, meet refrigerator, meat bone cutter, meat slicing machine, meat grinder, meat butcher knives, stainless tables, meat hanging stainless bar with hooks, chicken plucking machine, and a fabricated abattoir box frame.
Resolve to uplift economic well-being
Noraidah Busran, project director of DTI-ICCMN, emphasized the importance of the project to the beneficiaries, as she lauded the MILF members for their determination to push for the approval of the pioneering project.
“Ito ang matagal na nating iniiintay. This is what we were talking about three to four months ago. Initially, we thought this project would not push through but we succeeded. Pinaglaban ninyo ang kagustuhan ninyo,” Busran said.
She also cited the support given DTI Undersecretary Abdulganin Macatoman, chairman of the Halal Board’s technical working group, to realize the project which is in line with the agency’s efforts to strengthen the country’s Halal industry.
Busran likewise urged the project beneficiaries to ensure the sustainability of the project by maximizing the use and taking good care of the equipment given to them.
“Our target beneficiaries are not only the cooperatives, but also the families and communities. Gusto po namin ibahagi ito at makatulong sa inyong lahat. Sana po ma sustain ninyo,” she said.
Asmerah Lontua, OPAPP peace program officer, explained that the livelihood project is multi-agency effort by ICCMN member-agencies that is designed to help the MILF members make the successful transition to mainstream society.
“Itong programa po na ito ay kasama sa mga socio-economic programs para sa mga decommissioned combatants na parte ng kanilang transition from armed combatant to a productive and peaceful member of the community,” Lontua said.
“Kami din ay masaya na isa itong projekto na kasama doon sa pinili talaga ng mga decommissined combatants at mga miyembro ng cooperatives na alam nila na ‘yun ay makakatulong sa kanila,” she added.
