Ex-communist rebels, supporters in Aurora get livelihood aid

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 20, 2022): Ex-communist rebels, supporters in Aurora get livelihood aid (By Jason De Asis)

LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTIONS. Three people's organizations, which members are former communist rebels and supporters, receive livelihood assistance from the Provincial Agriculture Office in Aurora and the Philippine Army's 91st Infantry Battalion at the 91IB headquarters in Baler town, Aurora on Tuesday (Dec. 20, 2022). The livelihood assistance include 6,000 tilapia fingerlings and assorted vegetable seeds. (Photo by Jason de Asis)

BALER, Aurora – The Provincial Agriculture Office in Aurora, in collaboration with the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB), on Tuesday provided livelihood assistance to three people’s organizations (POs) here.

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto Jr., commander of 91IB, said the groups, which members are composed of former communist rebels and supporters, received 6,000 tilapia fingerlings and assorted vegetable seeds that could help them start new lives as they reintegrate into mainstream society.

Recto said the PO-beneficiaries were the members of the Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Dicaluyongan (2nd Group of Masaganang Perlas ng Silanganan sa Aurora Province-MAPSAP), Solo Parents Association and Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Camalatan Nonong Sr. Association.

He said the three POs got 2,000 fingerlings each, and assorted vegetable seeds as part of the livelihood intervention programs.

“The Philippine Army and other concerned agencies will do their best to give our POs more livelihood assistance. We would like them to be transformed and productive. Hopefully, this livelihood assistance will become sustainable,” Recto said in an interview.

Senior Agriculturist Danilo Enguera thanked the 91IB for its initiative as he expressed the provincial government’s full support to the beneficiaries.

“This activity is what we called gaining the trust of our people. The provincial government is always doing its part to help you. Whatever livelihood interventions and technology training, we should do our part for economic growth,” Enguera said.

Ka Eric Samolde, a member of the Nagkakaisang Mamamayan ng Dicaluyongan, thanked the 91IB and other concerned agencies for all the support and services provided to them.

Samolde asked his co-PO members not to waste the opportunities being provided by the government.

“I am very grateful for all the support coming to us. Pagkatapos ng 30 taong mahigit ko sa kilusan ay nabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na makapagbagong buhay. Hindi na patago-tago. Huwag nating sayangin ang pagkakataong ito at patuloy nating pagyamanin ang mga ayuda na ibinibigay ng gobyerno sa atin gayundin na makatulong din tayo sa iba pa nating mga kasamahan. Samantalahin natin ang pagkakataong ito (In my more than 30 years in the underground organization, we were given an opportunity to change our lives. No more hiding. Let us not waste this opportunity and continue to enrich the assistance being provided by the government to us and at the same time, we can help our other fellows. Let us take this opportunity),” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1191159