Kalinga hires 22 former rebels as forest guards

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- Twenty-two former rebels are set to join the “Bantay Gubat” brigade this month to help in the protection and conservation of forests in the province.

Veronica Banglot, supervising ecosystem management specialist of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has furnished their office of the new list of hired forest protectors.

“This will be of great help in protecting and preserving the remaining forest cover of the province particularly to augment the only one forest ranger and two volunteers assigned to watch the Balbalasang Eco Park,” she said. Their contract is good for five months and renewable, she added.

Some 148 former rebels were also hired in January this year under PAMANA program for former conflict areas.

Meanwhile, Banglot informed they are also assisting these former rebels undergo training for livelihood. Recently, 13 finished training on bamboo craft in Abra.

She said they will assist them organize themselves, propose livelihood projects for government assistance and refer them to agencies like Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment and Dept. of Science and Technology so that the spirit of the closure order of the Sipat between the government and the former Cordillera People’s Liberation Army be realized through economic interventions.