LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMER REBELS TO SUSTAIN GAINS ON ANTI-INSURGENCY POLICY
MANILA - Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar on Wednesday said that the government continues to reap gains on its whole-of-nation approach to end local insurgency while providing job opportunities to former rebels.
He noted that the
403rd Infantry Brigade and the Department of Agriculture in Region 10 advocate
Adlai production and processing as potential livelihood projects for former
rebels.
Secretary Andanar
is the Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) of
Northern Mindanao.
“Sa atong
rehiyon, dako kaayo ang mga lakang ug mga achievement sa atong gobyerno para
masolbad ang insurgency. So mao nang katong mga nisurrender, ninaog sila gikan
sa bukid ug natagaan nato og trabaho. Dunay uban pud atong atong napaeskwela,
samtang ang uban nahimong farmers [In our region there are many government
initiatives and accomplishments to address insurgency. There were those who
went down from the mountains to surrender and we have provided them with job
opportunities. There were others who enrolled to study, while others became
farmers],” he said
Last December,
Secretary Andanar and DA Undersecretary for Regulations, Engr. Zamzamin L.
Ampatuan attended the Adlai Ceremonial Harvest at Camp Osito Bahian in
Malaybalay City.
Upon his return
to Manila, the PCOO chief brought with him 1 ton of Adlai in an effort to
promote it to other Cabinet Secretaries and foreign dignitaries with whom he
had engagements.
“Namalit ta og
mga Adlai nila para matabangan nato ang rebel returnees sa pagbaligya nila ug
gapadayon pud ta og order sa 403rd IB, para ato pong mapadali ang kinabuhi sa
atong reel returnees ug ato pong mapromte ang ilang produkto [We bought Adlai
to help our rebel returnees and we continue to order through the 403rd IB, to
make life easier for former rebels and likewise promote their products],”
Secretary Andanar said.
Adlai production
is now also replicated in the Caraga region for their implementation of
projects under their Regional
Task Force Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC). This has served
as another alternative staple food and livelihood for farmers, indigenous
peoples, and families in communities identified as Geographically Isolated and
Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).
The said crop is also commercially produced because of its
nutritional value.
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