Decommissioned combatants receive livelihood assistance

LIVELIHOOD ASSISTANCE --- 127 decommissioned combatants of the MILF received agricultural interventions, to include goats, in turn-over rites led by Government Implementing Peace Panel Chair Irene Santiago (inset) at Camp Darapanan. (ANNE ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)

COTABATO CITY --- Some 127 decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) received livelihood assistance during a turn-over ceremony last March 15 held at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Government Implementing Peace Panel Chair Irene Santiago said this initiative is in accordance to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangasamoro (CAB), particularly on the Annex on Normalization.

“This program was led by the Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities or TFDCC and the Department of Agriculture,” said Santiago.

Santiago said the beneficiaries come from Maguindanao province. The agricultural interventions include carabaos with implements, cattle heads, goats, and poultry animals such as chickens and ducks.

“They also received rice and corn seeds, rubber, and fruit seedlings such aslanzones, mangoes, durian, and mangosteen as well as fertilizers,” said Santiago.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael G. Mangudadatu has also gave coconut seedlings to the decommissioned combatants

On May 31, 2015, the GPH and MILF negotiating panels signed an agreement creating the TFDCC which is mandated to undertake special socio-economic and development programs for the decommissioned women auxiliary forces of the MILF. It shall also assist the panels in identifying and implementing the socio-economic priorities and development projects that will address the needs of MILF combatants and their communities.

The TFDCC shall also coordinate with government agencies, development partners, the private sector, and other stakeholders in monitoring and supporting the transition of the decommissioned combatants and programs for their communities, the internally displaced, and other vulnerable sectors.

Previously, 145 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) turned over their firearms as part of the Phase 1 of the decommissioning process in keeping with the CAB. The 145 members underwent profiling process wherein their needed socio-economic assistance have been identified.

To date, partner implementing agencies (PHIC, DEPED, TESDA, CHED, DA, DSWD) have fully delivered their commitments to the decommissioned combatants except for the livelihood assistance from the Department of Agriculture and cash-for-work support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development as they are waiting the go-signal and approval of the MILF on these remaining interventions.

In the just concluded 7^th GPH-MILF Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities Meeting last March 7 in Davao City, it was agreed to conduct a training orientation and delivery of socio-economic package for the 127 decommissioned combatants based in Maguindanao and North Cotabato on March 14-15, 2017 in Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Also in attendance included GPH TFDCC co-chair and Office of the Presiden6tial Adviser on the Peace Process Assistance SecretaryRolly Asuncion, MILF Implementing Panel member Prof. Abhoud Syed M. Lingga, MILF-BIAF spokesman Von Alhaq, MILF TFDCC co-chair Hadji Abdullah Pacasem, and DA Undersecretary Atty. Ranibai D. Dilangalen. (ANNE B. ACOSTA – MINDANAO EXPOSE’)