TALACOGON, Agusan del Sur – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) of Agusan del Sur dispensed a total amount of thirty-nine thousand pesos (PhP39,000.00) worth of financial allowance to 15 Former Rebels (FRs) of the 26th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army on September 2, 2022.

Each FR received two thousand six hundred pesos (PhP2,600.00), as his scholarship allowance during the 10-day Land Preparation for Agricultural Crops Production leading to Agricultural Crops Production National Certificate (NC) III Training that was conducted  from August 09, 2022 and subsequently concluded  on August 23 2022.

“Dili kamahayan ang among pag balik sa sabakan sa goberno, kung diin kami naka dawat sa lain-laing benepesyo ug programa na gikan sa nagka daiyang ahensya sa panggamhanan ilabi na sa TESDA nga maoy nag pasiugda ug nagpahigayon sa mga skills training ug seminars aron mahasa ang among kahibalo alang sa among panginabuhian uban sa among pamilya (We never regret returning to the folds of the law, wherein we have received various benefits from the programs provided by the government agencies, especially TESDA which gave us the opportunity to undergo skills training and seminars for us to be equipped with the right knowledge and skills as we start our own families’ livelihood),” alias Jack said.

The TESDA Agusan del Sur is headed by Ms. Novielita A, Dispo, Acting Provincial Director of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), which is amongst the active partner agencies of the unit in the implementation of government programs and services to the marginalized communities in the area of operations. They offer scholarship grants for technical and vocational courses especially to the most vulnerable sectors in the community such as the FRs and the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to empower the FRs to be more economically-resilient by enhancing and developing their individual skills and capability toward sustainable livelihood. 

"Dako akuang kalipay nga nakahatag me sa TESDA ug gamay nga kaalam sa inyo mahitungod sa pag-uma nga inyong magamit sa tagsa tagsa ninyo nga mga kumunidad isip panginabuhian alang sa inyong pagbalik sa sabakan sa goberno (I am glad that TESDA was able to provide you with the right knowledge on farming that you could now use in your respective livelihood following your return to the mainstream society)," said Dispo.

The said assistance and training were all part of the continuous process of reintegration program for the Former Rebels under the Enhanced -Comprehensive Local Integration Program which aims to give our FRs  aid during their adaptation process in going back to their communities as  law-abiding citizens far from the chaotic environment inside the Communist NPA group.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol) Sandy R Majarocon, commanding officer of 26IB, commended the TESDA-Agusan del Sur on their assistance with the former rebels. “Sa maka usa pa mapasalamaton ako ug dako sa nagka lain-laing ahensya sa panggamhanan ilabi na sa TESDA nga walay pu-as nga naningkamot sa pag pahigayon sa nagdaiyang programa alang sa atong mga kaigsuonan nga kanhi nahisalaag sa laing dalan sa kinabuhi aron sila makabaton ug malambuon ug malaumon nga kaugmaon uban ang ilang pamilya ug mga mahal sa kinabuhi (Once again, I am thankful to the different government agencies especially to TESDA for its consitent effort to provide programs intended to our former rebels, so they can experience a better life with their families and loved ones),” he said.

LtCol Majarocon also appealed to the remaining members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists who are still letting themselves be used by the communist propaganda, to lay down their arms and return to the folds of the government and be  law-abiding citizens once again. "Ang atong gobyerno andam mutabang sa inyo, dili na kenahanglan pa nga ipadayon ang walay hangkag nga pakigbatok sa gobyerno (Our government is always ready to serve and help you. There is no need to continue fighting against the government)," he said. (1Lt Percival Carido, CMO Officer, 26IB, PA/PIA-Agusan del Sur)