NEARLY... EX-NPA...

People’s Park.

Yesterday, another set of cash aid distribution for the same batches was conducted in Tugbok, Baguio, and Malagos Districts.

According to Baloro, the displaced workers rendered service for four hours per day for ten days, including senior citizens, youth aged 18 years old and above, young adults, persons with disabilities, solo parents, among others.

“The program is really for everyone. This program is really to help them,” he added.

Aside from the Work for Davao, the office also handles other programs like the School Davao, CHED and LGU Davao Tulong Dunong Student Financial Assistance Program, TESDA Scholarship, Student Siblings’ Tablet, and Laptop Sharing Project, and TUPAD #BKBK Program.

Baloro also revealed the opening of another livelihood program, dubbed as “Trabaho Dabawenyo,” which is set to commence in May this year to allow more Davaoeños to continue work despite the challenges faced due to COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are now about to commence Trabaho Dabawenyo. This is still a TUPAD Program under the Department of Labor and Employment, this is in the amount of 100 million that will commence this May 2021,” Baloro said.

The Davao Special Project Office, which is located at Door 7, Magsaysay Park, is open daily, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to accommodate applicants and clients with concerns relating to their respective programs.

Amihan said.

Ka Amihan was joined by three other former rebels, alongside North Cotabato Governor Nancy Catamco, 1002nd Brigade Commander Brigadier General Potenciano Camba, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) XII regional director Eduardo Marquez.

Catamco said the senators should listen to the former rebels, although she believed that President Rodrigo Duterte will likely veto any move to defund the task force.

“I think they don’t understand the purpose of Executive Order 70, and maybe they should listen to Ka Amihan and other former rebels before they talk because they have a different experience there in the senate compared to the former rebels,” Governor Catamco.

Camba said they have high expectations for the program considering the massive P20 million budget per cleared barangay.

“It will be of great service to the people that we can provide farm to market roads, school buildings, and water and sanitation projects with the allocated budget of P20 million from the Barangay Development Program,” Camba said.

By improving the lives of the communities in isolated areas, the residents are less likely to be swayed by the promises of the NPA.

Meanwhile, Ka Amihan reiterated their stand as former rebels to oppose any initiatives to defund the task force.

“We want to bring peace to the communities that are victims of exploitation and radicalization,” he said. “This is more than a COVID-19 pandemic because this communist insurgency is worse than a virus killing millions.”