Ormoc City – A day after President Rody Duterte ordered government agencies to jointly address poverty and insurgency in the countryside, the Department of Agriculture (DA) pledged P36-M in livelihood funds for 1,200 former Communist rebels and mass-based supporters in Leyte Province on Tuesday, April 16.
The 1,200 former rebels and their mass-based supporters recently vowed to return to the folds of the law following a relentless reintegration campaign launched by the Philippine Army’s 802nd Brigade under Brig. Gen. Louie Dagoy.
Gen. Dagoy, former commander of the Presidential Security Group of President Duterte, presented the top rebel leader who recently surrendered to the AFP during the anniversary celebrations of the 802nd Brigade where I was invited as Guest of Honor.
Also present during the event were Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez and his wife, Cong. Lucy Torres-Gomez, Cong. Ching Veloso, Cong. Boying Cari and other local officials.
Gen. Dagoy said among the concerns of the former rebels and their sympathizers is their livelihood as they return to their farms.
In response, I committed an initial P5,000 as part of the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Loan Program for each of the surrenderers totaling P6-M.
An additional P30-M will also be made available under the Production Loan Easy Access (PLEA) Program.
The DA also committed 100 heads of cattle, ducks and incubators for “balut” production.
On Monday, President Duterte directed agencies of government to implement the Whole of Nation Approach in addressing poverty and insurgency in the countryside.
In view of the directive, the DA will be working closely with the AFP, DILG and other agencies in the implementation of livelihood interventions. (By Sec. Manny Piñol)
(Photos by Kathleen Bahinting, DA OSEC)
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