Former rebels in MisOcc get livelihood grant from DSWD

A total of 26 former rebels beneficiaries receives P20,000 each for their respective livelihood projects. (PSWDO)

A total of 26 former rebels (FRs) who are beneficiaries of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) in Misamis Occidental received cash assistance from the Department of Social and Welfare (DSWD)-10 through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).

Under the program, each of them received P20,000 for livelihood projects.

DSWD Regional Program Coordinator Rhandy Ladoroz said the DSWD has been strengthening its sustainable livelihood program (SLP) towards providing livelihood grants to the community.

“Kini nga ayuda, para gyud ni sa inyong livelihood para kamo ma asenso ug dili na mo magsalig sa gobyerno. Ang among mga staff mag monitor sa inyoha kung na gamit ba ninyo ug sakto ang kwarta nga gihatag sa gobyerno. Kami sa gobyerno nagkahiusa para matabangan gyud mo para mabati ninyo kung unsay mga programa sa gobyerno,”

(This assistance is really for your livelihood so that you can be independent and you will no longer have to rely on the government. Our staff will closely monitor you to see if you are spending the budget accordingly provided by the government. We in the government are working together to really help you so that you will know that the government has a program for you)

For his part, Governor Philip Tan said that the government strives hard to help and give the programs and services to the people.

“Naa ta panahon sa kalisod, lisod manarbaho, sige ta ug apply wala ta nadawat bisag unsa atong na dawat na grasya swerte gyud kay sa tibuok MisOcc kamo ra’y nakadawat ani nga puhonan. Kami sa probinsya sa Misamis Occidental naningkamot mi nga kamo magkugi, kung studyante mag-tuon, ug manginabuhi ta ug tarong ka’y kanang problima nato sa kahusay ug kalinaw ipatuman sa Philippine Army. Manginabuhi ta nga wala’y samok,” Tan said.

(We are in a challenging situation where it is hard to land a job, we keep on applying but still to no avail. We are very lucky because, in the whole MisOcc, you are the chosen beneficiaries of this program. We, in the province of Misamis Occidental are encouraging you to work hard, if you are a student, study harder, and we should live the right way because the problem of our peace and order will be handled by the Philippine Army. Let us live peacefully.)

The SLP aims to improve the economic well-being of vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged individuals and families in communities by mobilizing and empowering them through the support of the local government units and other government agencies.

One of the former rebel expressed his gratitude as he received the cash assistance,“Nagpasalamat mi'g dako sa atong presidente si Rodrigo Duterte, sa atong governor Philip Tan, og sa 10IB og DSWD sa ilang gihatag sa amoa nga kwarta. Dako kini sya nga tabang aron makapatindog mig bisag mga ginagmay nga panginabuhi sa tagsa tagsa samoa," said alias Rodel.

(We thank President Duterte, Gov. Philip Tan, 10IB and DSWD for giving us this money. This would greatly help us in starting a livelihood.)

The 26 recipients were among the first batch of ECLIP former rebels for DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) in Misamis Occidental. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)