Peace building effort with RPA-ABB in Panay Island gets boost under Duterte administration

From the Philippine News Agency (Dec 21): Peace building effort with RPA-ABB in Panay Island gets boost under Duterte administration

Peace-building efforts in Panay Island gained momentum under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa-Duterte with the full-swing implementation of the livelihood program in conflict-affected and conflict-vulnerable areas in three provinces through the Sustainable Livelihood Program- PAyapa and MAsaganang PamayaNAn (SLP-PAMANA) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The provision of livelihood support is part of the peace process closure track with the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa ng Pilipinas-Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) Tabara-Paduano Group (TPG), said Anthony Laruan, focal person for the SLP-PAMANA of the DSWD in Western Visayas.

“Part of the confidence building measure is the economic component, which is to provide livelihood to communities identified by the TPG,” he explained.

It is covered by Joint Resolution 2014-001 of the Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Audit and the DSWD that provides guidelines for the accreditation of civil society organizations (CSOs) to become recipients, beneficiaries or implementing entities of government or public funds.

The recipient communities, which are non-members of the TPG, have been accredited as CSO-beneficiaries, he said.

They are in 39 barangays settled in municipalities of Pandan, Sebaste, Culasi and Lau-an in Antique; Madalag, Ibajay and Nabas in Aklan and Maasin, Janiuay, Cabatuan, New Lucena, Tigbauan, Guimbal and Oton in Iloilo.

Their proposed livelihood projects have been approved and 38 barangays were already released Php500,000 each, Laruan added.

The projects range from agri-trading, vegetable and livestock production and community store, which are all communal projects. Each project has around 40 to 100 participants with the recipients reaching to around 1,000 in 39 barangays.

Laruan said that while the social preparation for the SLP started in April this year, the release of funds happened during the Duterte administration. He said this reflects the desire of the current government to pursue the peace efforts started by the past administration.

The social preparation included the validation of proposed projects, some of which were already identified way back in 2009.

However, most of the projects implemented were totally new following the validation and appraisal through project development and assessment workshop attended by livelihood focal person of the identified local government unit, agricultural officer, municipal social welfare officer and the local chief executive.

Meanwhile, there are two other components of the closure track that could not be implemented because of the unsigned agreement.

These are the livelihood program for profiled members of the TPG and the provision of the core shelter assistance.

The SLP for TPG-identified communities was implemented because it is part of the regular program of the DSWD, he explained.

Aside from livelihood program, DSWD also extended technology transfer training, capability building, seminar on business and financial management and technical sharing sessions on transition.

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