DoLE allots P100M for ex-Muslim rebels

THE Department of Labor and Employment ( DoLE) is making available an initial P100- million emergency employment assistance fund to decommissioned combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to help them reintegrate into mainstream society.

The livelihood assistance package was part of a memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed recently by Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd with Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. in compliance with Executive Order (EO) 79.

Under EO 79, the reintegration would be made possible through the provision of livelihood and other appropriate programs and services. “This partnership is focused on assisting former rebels to transition into civilian lives and facilitate their transformation and the six MILF camps into peaceful and productive communities through employment facilitation and sustainable livelihood assistance,” Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd said. A total of 7,163 decommissioned combatants are expected to benefit from the emergency employment assistance fund.

Under the MoA, the Labor department will assist in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro ( CAB) Normalization Program through the provision of emergency employment under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers program

It will also provide employment facilitation programs and services to the former rebels under the Government Internship Program and Special Program for Employment of Students.

Bello said the initiatives aimed to support the Duterte adm inistration’s agenda of just and lasting peace by reaching out to former rebels and providing them with sustainable livelihood and employment opportunities as the best solution to root causes of violent extremism.

Meanwhile, Galvez noted that DoLE was the first government agency, along with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, to be on hand in the implementation of the CAB Normalization Program of transforming the six MILF camps into peaceful and resilient communities.

“We hope that through this collaboration, DoLE will continue to provide support during the succeeding stages of the normalization program and bring us closer to our vision of achieving ensuring peace and sustainable development in Bangsamoro,” he said.