ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 9 is pouring more funds for livelihood assistance to former rebels in Zamboanga Sibugay.

Atty. Roy L. Buenafe, DOLE 9 Regional Director, said that a total of Php1,108,890.00 in livelihood grants were given to 51 former rebels on May 2, 2022.

Recipients of livelihood kits are from the municipalities of Lacnapan, Tampilisan and Kabasalan in Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said that the livelihood assistance aims to reintegrate these former insurgents and their families back into their communities to start anew and provide them with a sustainable source of income.

“We are working closely with the National and Regional Task Force on ending local communist armed conflict (ELCAC) in the identification of beneficiaries. Provision of livelihood grants is one of the many interventions of the NTF ELCAC in the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach against insurgencies,” Atty. Buenafe added.

In partnership with Goodyear Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Multipurpose Cooperative (GARBEMCO), DOLE Zamboanga Sibugay Field Office Chief Elamsalih Ungad turned over the Kabuhayan Starter Kits (KSK) composed of tools and equipment for the following projects: Baking and Pastry, Loading Station, Carpentry, Mini Sari-Sari Store, Vulcanizing, Dressmaking, Welding, and Gardening.

The KSK Project is a livelihood-formation strategy under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP) targeted at enhancing the socio-economic well-being of informal economy workers, groups/sectors with special concerns, and displaced wage workers and their families.

Kabasalan PESO Manager, Soliven Teo, GARBEMCO General Manager, Lilia G. Manuel, DILP Focal, Ms. Edyll Grace Poligrates, Eusebio Tose of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Col Eddie M. Pilapil, Deputy Brigade Commander of the 102nd (Igsoon) Brigade stood as witnesses to the said turn-over. END/K.Grafia with report from DOLE ZSFO