MILF: Decommissioned MILF combatants complete livelihood skills training courses

Posted to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front Website (May 4): Decommissioned MILF combatants complete livelihood skills training courses



Undertaking an important step in their return to civilian lives, decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) graduated from their respective skills training courses at the Old Provincial Capitol in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao last Tuesday (April 25).

Around 133 former members of Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF), MILF’s military wing, received their certificates of training completion from Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) which provided the training.

In his message, Commissioner Melanio Ulama of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) lauded the training graduates for their perseverance to finish the skills training courses.

During the media forum following the ceremony, Ulama said the MILF will continue giving education to the former combatants. “The process doesn’t end with the provision of the toolkits but they will be continuously educated with the proper technology and guidance on how to improve their projects,” he added.

“Some said the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is dead but it is not,” Ulama said and explained that the proposed legislation was just parked and its passage will be continued by the next administration.

Government of the Philippines Peace Panel Chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer who graced the ceremony cited the important role of the decommissioned combatants in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), a peace agreement signed by the Two Parties in 2014.

Last June, 145 former combatants and 75 high-powered weapons were subjected to decommissioning process.

The undertaking was part of the Normalization process that manifested the MILF’s commitment to abide with the CAB.

On the part of the Government, line agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agrarian Reform and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will provide assistance to the former combatants to start up their livelihood activities.

Cookery, engine repair, dressmaking and electrical installation and maintenance were among the courses offered in the said training.

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