ARMM intensifies reintegration program to combat terrorism

Isabela City, Basilan (November 8, 2018) – “Malaking tulong po talaga ang proyekto ng PAVE sa amin dahil nagkaroon na po kami ng pangkabuhayan at magkakaroon na ng sariling bahay,” Leizel Arelon, a mother of two and one of the housing and livelihood project beneficiaries in Barangay Tubigan in the town of Maluso said.

Arelon’s family is among the survivors of the August 2017 massacre perpetrated by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in Barangay Tubigan. Houses were intentionally burned and people died during the massacre.

The reintegration program under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), dubbed Program Against Violent Extremism (PAVE), is designed to provide opportunities to ASG members who surrendered and returned to the fold of law to become productive members of society and to assist the communities destroyed by the conflict.

John Louie Balagot, ARMM’s cabinet secretary and PAVE program manager emphasized that helping the ASG returnees is just one part of the reintegration program because the ARMM government is also doing engagements to affected communities especially youth and women sectors, which have important roles in preventing terrorism.

“Isa din sa pinaka-objective ng program ay magkaroon ng reconciliation and healing process between the victims and the ASG returnees,” Sec. Balagot said. The communities who were affected by the massacre in 2017 received housing and livelihood projects.

They are also recipients of the ARMM’s Bangsamoro Regional Inclusive Development with Growth and Equity food distribution program. The ARMM’s Health Education Livelihood Peace and Governance and Synergy program, meanwhile, constructed infrastructure projects in the community.

On November 8, Sec. Balagot visited the Alternative Learning System class of 119 ASG returnees, a housing project, and a farming project, where beneficiaries are being assisted in growing chili, cassava and vegetable.

“Gusto na po namin ng kapayapaan at katahimikan kaya nagpapasalamat po kami sa pagtanggap sa amin at pagbigay ng tulong para mas maayos namin ang buhay ng pamilya namin,” Balaman Musad one of the ASG returnees said. Musad is helping construct houses, is a recipient of the livelihood project, and is attending ALS classes.

Muz-ar Angkun, another beneficiary, also attended the ALS classes. “Inaayos ko na po ang buhay ko ngayon para maging mabuting modelo sa aking mga anak at upang hindi sila maligaw ng landas,” he said. “Bilang ama ng walong anak, ayoko pong maranasan nila ang mga naranasan ko kaya nagsusumikap po ako ngayon para mas maging mabuti silang tao,”Angkun added.

The office of ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman has earmarked P20 million for the implementation of the program, which also covers assistance to returnees from the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters. (By Mindanao EXPOSE’ with Bureau of Public Information)