THE military reported that 180 former supporters of the New People’s in Makilala, North Cotabato underwent a livelihood capacity building activity at the headquarters of the 39th Infantry Battalion on Friday.8
Lt. Col. Ezra Balagtey, battalion commander, said 180 participants who were organized into 10 organizations underwent training on leadership, financial management, coupled with team building and inter-personal skills development.
The activity was facilitated by the Department of Social and Welfare Development XII, Municipal Social and Welfare Development – Makilala, Department of Trade and Industry and Local Government Unit of Makilala and and the battalion as it was part of the program to capacitate former rebels and their supporters under the Task Force Balik-Loob Program and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Balagtey said the organizations are set to receive P300,000 as beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the DSWD. The fund will be part of the money that they and will use for their respective cooperatives.
The military officer expressed his appreciation to the help of the other government agencies as he encouraged the participants to continue to build peace in these communities.
“We are thankful to DSWD, DTI and LGU of Makilala for continuously reaching out and bringing hope to our brothers and sisters who once lost from the mainstream,” he said.
