'Katuparan Center' established for former rebels in DavSur

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 2, 2021): 'Katuparan Center' established for former rebels in DavSur (By Carina Cayon)

DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur, Feb. 2 (PIA) -- Governor Douglas Cagas has recently sealed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with multi-sectoral stakeholders, which outlines the operationalization of the Davao del Sur Provincial Local Governance Resource Center to cater to the needs and concerns of the former rebels in the province.

The DDS-PLGRC will also be known as the “Katuparan Center” which will serve as the capacity development center for the former rebels and their people’s organizations.

As stipulated in the MOA, among the functions of the center is to reorient and reorganize the mindset of the underground mass organizations (UGMOs) of the CPP-NPA-NDF into more productive and self-sustaining people’s organizations.

It will also become a venue for the POs to be equipped with skills, knowledge, tools and equipment for a sustainable livelihood.

Mika-Chan Magtulis, provincial director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Davao del Sur, explained the need of developing the people’s organization of the former rebels for them “to become productive and self-sustaining by providing needed assistance or interventions coming from the government.”

The operationalization of the “Katuparan Center” is part of the implementation of the Tupad Pangako Program which is a joint endeavor of the provincial local government of Davao del Sur, DILG Davao del Sur, Philippine Army’s 39th Infantry Battalion and Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office (DSPPO), and the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC).

“I am now in my fifth term as governor of this province. Dili ko musugot na kaning pangako karon mapakyas (I will not allow this promise will fail),” Cagas stated in his message during the recent MOA signing ceremonies at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City.

The MOA has also formalized the creation of the Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee (MSAC) which will oversee the “Katuparan Center.”

The committee will be chaired by the Provincial Administrator of Davao del Sur and co-chaired by DILG Provincial Director.

Among the roles of the provincial government include the formulation of policies and guidelines and allocation of funds for the operationalization of the center.

On the part of the DILG Davao del Sur, it will monitor and evaluate the impact of the center and contribute in the development of good practices in the local governance and its replication.

The 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army through the 39th IB will conduct Community Support Program (CSP) and Peace Building Seminars, among others.

The MSAC is expected to initiate steps towards building their respective organizations as Knowledge Centric Organization and to contribute relevant local governance knowledge products to the center.

Magtulis underscored the involvement of various stakeholders, saying “the effective operationalization of the Davao del Sur PLGRC requires the active involvement, support and partnership among NGE’s, LGU’s, NGO’s CSO’s, resource institution in the various local governance stakeholders.”

The other members of the MSAC are: DSPPO; Bureau of Fire Protection; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; Department of Trade and Industry – Davao del Sur; Philippine Information Agency – Davao del Sur; Department of Education – Davao del Sur; Cor Jesu College, Inc.; MBLRC; and DavSur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The TPP, which was launched in October 2020, recently opened the way for 21 former rebels to acquire new knowledge and skills from a three-month livelihood training held at the MBRLC in Bansalan town.

The FRs received their certificates of graduation in the commencement rites on January 27, 2021 at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City, where the “Katuparan Center” MOA signing was also held. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1065675