SUMMIT FOR FORMER REBELS HIGHLIGHTS LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES: Fifty former rebels who formed the Sambayanan Cagayan Valley Agricultural Cooperative were given comprehensive training on cooperative management principles, marking a significant step towards their reintegration and sustainable livelihood development during the People's Organization Summit and Cooperative Capacity Training on June 13-14, 2024.
With optimism and enthusiasm, over 50 Cagayanon former rebels have returned to farming and are managing their cooperative, the Sambayanan Cagayan Valley Agricultural Cooperative (SCVAC). Recently, SCVAC secured PHP 8,577,925.00 for a sweet potato production project. Mauricio Aguinaldo, SCVAC Chairman, aims to use this funding to produce sweet potato products and support their families.
“Simple lang naman ang pangarap namin, ang maitaguyod ang kabuhayan ng aming pamilya para makapamuhay nang tahimik at may konting ginhawa. Gusto rin namin na matulungan ang aming sarili at ang bawat isa kaya nagtayo kami ng kooperatiba,” Aguinaldo narrated. This vision, when achieved, will provide sustainable livelihoods and contribute to regional agricultural development.
There are already 142 registered People's Organizations in Cagayan forming cooperatives with local government support. Cagayan Governor Manuel N. Mamba backs these cooperatives through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), offering benefits and services to former rebels. He reaffirmed this support during the People's Organization Summit and Cooperative Capacity Training at the Cagayan Provincial Farm School Anquiray on June 13-14, 2024. Organized by Task Force Balik-Loob (TFBL), the summit provided training on cooperativism and financial literacy, encouraging participants to propose business ideas.
In the summit, Philippine Navy CAPT Ferdinand C Buscato (GSC), Acting TFBL Executive Director, emphasized the importance of training and financial literacy for former rebels to manage government-provided resources. He conveyed the message of Defense Undersecretary Angelito M. De Leon, the Chairperson of the Task Force, encouraging participants to develop business and livelihood proposals. “Sa dalawang araw na training na ito, kayo ay mabibigyan ng kaalaman sa pinansyal at pamamahala ng inyong asosasyon. Kaugnay nito, sana ay makapagbigay kayo ng mga ‘project proposals’ na magiging panimula ng inyong daan sa pag-unlad,” he stated.
The 5th Infantry Division and 17th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, along with other key agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Cagayan, facilitated the training. Aguinaldo thanked TFBL for their support and pledged SCVAC's active participation in reintegration efforts, stating, “Ang Sambayanan Agricultural Cooperative ay magbibigay rin at tutulong din sa ating gobyerno partikular [na] sa TFBL na hikayatin namin, hindi lang ‘yong mga remnants, hikayatin namin ‘yong mga natitira pa ring mga sumusuporta at mga kakaunti na lang na naniniwala sa kabila. Kaisa nila kami, kaisa nila ang SAC na mag-ikot at mag-organisa pa at liwanagan [maliwanagan] yung mga kaisipan ng aming mga kababayan na nandito. Wala nang dahilan para lumaban pa kami sa gobyerno. Wala na ring dahilan para hindi na sila [rebels] bumaba dahil nandito na ang tunay na programa, ang tunay na TFBL.”
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