Former rebels get farm equipment from ELCAC, Kidapawan gov't

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 28, 2022): Former rebels get farm equipment from ELCAC, Kidapawan gov't (By John Andrew Tabugoc)

AGRI-EQUIPMENT. The mobile rice mill equipment received by one of two farmer organizations formed by former communist rebels in Barangay Linangkob and Sikitan in Kidapawan City on July 27, 2022. The city government collaborated with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict for the realization of the PHP1.3 million worth of assistance to the two farmer groups. (Photo courtesy of Kidapawan CIO)

Two farmer associations here composed of former rebels received some PHP1.3 million worth of farm production equipment from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), in partnership with the city government.

In a statement Thursday, Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista said the city agriculturist turned over the equipment to the Nagkahiusang Barangay Linangkob sa Kaunlaran (NABALIK) and the Sikitan Multi-Sectoral Association (SMSA).

Both farming organizations were formed by ex-New People’s Army rebels residing in Barangays Linangkob and Sikitan—two of former NPA–influenced villages in the city. They received the farm equipment on Wednesday afternoon at the city hall grounds.

NABALIK received a mobile rice mill equipment and hand tractor amounting to P954,000, while 114 units of shovels and 114 units of sprayers worth PPH280,000 were given to the SMSA.

The program is under the Capacity Development Related to Agriculture Development that focuses on programs for former rebels in the city to enhance their livelihood and capability.

The assistance also includes training programs to develop the recipients' farming knowledge.

“The LGU is steadfast in responding to programs that could benefit this sector as well as, in coordinating the concerned agencies to boost the FRs' (former rebels) image as productive citizens,” the mayor said.

In December 2018, former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte issued Executive Order 70 that created the NTF-ELCAC, synchronizing government resources with the capabilities of private sector in a bid to end the 50-year-old communist insurgency.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1179995