Kalinaw News: AGILA-HAVEN Program provided livelihood assistance to 177 Former Extremists

Posted to Kalinaw News (Apr 6, 2021): AGILA-HAVEN Program provided livelihood assistance to 177 Former Extremists



CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao – A total of 177 former Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) extremists received livelihood and farm assistance through the Province of Maguindanao’s peace initiative dubbed as Anak na may GInintuang LAyunin, upang Hintuan Ang Violent Extremism Ngayon (AGILA-HAVEN) Program. According to the initial accomplishment report presented by Task Force AGILA of the Provincial Government of Maguindanao, 40 motorbikes (payong-payong), 12 farm tractors, 13 motorized bangka, 131 farm merchandises, and livelihood assistance were already distributed to 177 former extremists as of April 05, 2021.

The most recent of the said grant is the turn-over of various livelihood assistance and farm machineries under the AGILA-HAVEN Program to 42 former BIFF and DI members on April 05, 2021. Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu led the simple turn-over ceremony at the Satellite Office of the Provincial Government in Buluan, Maguindanao which was also attended by Brigadier General Jose H. Narciso, the Assistant Division Commander of 6th Infantry Division, representing Major General Juvymax R. Uy, the Commander of Joint Task Force Central and 6ID, PA.

The additional grant was composed of 17 Hand Tractors (Kuliglig), two (2) Rotavators, and various farm and livelihood assistance which were intended to help the 42 former rebels start a peaceful and progressive life with their family and community. As of this reporting, another batch of former extremists is still on process to receive the next set of livelihood assistance from the provincial government.

Alongside the event, the Governor also distributed six (6) utility vehicles and 10 rescue vehicles to various DepEd District Supervisors and Barangays Officials of the province to enable them to serve their communities and constituents better.

Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu expressed her appreciation to the former rebels for their decision to cooperate with the government. “Ngayon nandyan na ang tulong kaya wala nang dahilan para tayo ay magkawatak-watak…hikayatin ninyo ang iba nyo pang kasamahan na magbalik-loob sa gobyerno (The assistance is now here and we have no more reason to rebel and be divided…convince the others (rebels) to go back to the folds of the government)”, Gov. Mangudadatu said.

The Governor also declared the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and the Dawlah Islamiya (DI) as persona-non-grata in the Province of Maguindanao. “Walang Muslim ang pumapatay ng kapwa Muslim, wala sila (BIFF and DI) karapatang sirain ang ating bayan…”, Gov. Mangudadatu added.

Brig. Gen. Narciso expressed 6ID’s gratitude for the commitment of the Local Government of Maguindanao in all the peace initiatives in the province. “The AGILA-HAVEN program has gone a long way since its formal launching at the Provincial Capitol in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao in 2020. Now the province’s desire for lasting peace is being realized,” Brig. Gen. Narciso added.

It can be recalled that the Inter-Agency Task Force AGILA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Satellite Office of the Provincial Government in Buluan, Maguindanao on March 31, 2021, to strengthen the implementation of the AGILA-HAVEN Program. Various agencies from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Maguindanao Provincial Government, Provincial Police Office-Maguindanao, and 6th Infantry Division, Philippine Army pledged support to the full implementation of the AGILA-HAVEN Program.

Major General Juvymax R. Uy, Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division Commander shared his message of support to the program of TF AGILA during the MOU signing. “Sa pamamagitan nitong Memorandum of Understanding, malaki ang maiaambag nitong tulong lalong-lalo na sa ating mga government enforcers at Local Chief Executives sa probinsya para ma-sustain natin ang Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) Program sa pamamagitan ng AGILA HAVEN”, the commander said.

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https://www.kalinawnews.com/agila-haven-program-provided-livelihood-assistance-to-177-former-extremists/