Ex-rebels, supporters venture into organic gardening

From the Philippine Information Agency (Sep 29, 2020): Ex-rebels, supporters venture into organic gardening (By Alex Lumaque)

ROXAS CITY, Capiz, Sept. 29 (PIA) – All the 51 former rebels and supporters in Barangay Putian in Cuartero town have pledged to develop and sustain the Community Organic Vegetable (COVeg) farm of the government.

The project was launched by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Capiz Provincial Office, Sept. 25, in collaboration with other concerned government agencies as a contribution to the beneficiaries’ transformation into a new and peaceful life.

“This is in response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte on the Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict,” said TESDA provincial director Engr. Abdel Hajan, adding that the initiative aims to bring change towards the development of communities.

The convergence project highlighted the “Capiz PRLEC Serbisyo Caravan” that was participated in by at least 13 national government agencies that also pitched in their respective services and programs to the insurgency – cleared as well ready for development barangay.

PRLEC is Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) and is among the 12 clusters of the Task Force- ELCAC from the national, regional, provincial and municipal levels in view of the President's Executive Order No. 70.

TESDA will also train some of the beneficiaries on Organic Agriculture Production as well as on Carpentry and Masonry in preparation for the native chicken production livelihood project that will also be given to the COVeg farm beneficiaries.

During the program, Capiz Governor Esteban Evan Contreras committed to support to ELCAC - related activities in the province as it initially pledged on the needed logistical support for the native chicken production project.

Other PRLEC – member agencies to include the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippine Coconut Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency had also provided support to the project.

The Capiz Police Provincial Office of the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines have also been instrumental, thru its Community Support Program activities, in making Putian and adjacent barangays, namely, San Antonio, Mahunodhunod and Carataya, ready for development by clearing it from the influence of the New People’s Army Communist Terrorist Group rebels.

A pledge of commitment was also signed by the PRLEC members as well as the Capiz provincial and Cuartero municipal governments as a manifestation of the government’s sincerity in helping the former rebels start a new and productive life.

Philippine Information Agency - 6 Acting Regional Head and Regional Task Force on ELCAC Strategic Communications chair Jemin B. Guillermo also encouraged the former rebels and sympathizers to participate in governance to further improve their quality of life.

“We will never know what you need if you will not tell us,” she stressed. (JBG/AAL/PIA Capiz)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1054489