BORONGAN CITY, July 23 (PIA) — Some 26 former rebels of the New People’s Army (NPAs) completed the three-day Raise Organic Chicken Skills and Livelihood Training held on July 16-18, 2019 at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Can-avid in Eastern Samar.
The training with a theme: “From Arms to Farms: Growing Peace and Prosperity,” provided adequate knowledge and skills to former rebels in order for them to earn a decent livelihood and to become more productive members of the society.
In his message during the opening of the said training, Mayor Gil Norman Germino of Can-avid encouraged the former rebels to cooperate and internalize the knowledge and skills they will gain from the three-day training.
In his closing remarks, Lt. Col. Jasper Justito Pecson, commanding officer of the 14th Infantry Battalion (IB), urged the graduates to convince their comrades who are still in the mountains to return to the fold of the law so that they can avail the same benefits they have received from the government.
“After this training, I wish that each and everyone of you gained the knowledge and skills imparted and shared to you by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) officials,” Pecson said.
He also expressed his gratitude to TESDA – Arteche National Agricultural School (ANAS) and the local government of Can-avid for the successful conduct of the livelihood training which contributed to the peace and development of the province.
Each former rebel received 25 heads of chicks and one month allocation of feeds.
The reintegration program is a collaborative effort of national government agencies such as DILG, DOLE, DPWH, DOST, DND, DA, through the Philippine Army and TESDA. (NBQ/SDC/PIA-Eastern Samar with the 14th IB, Philippine Army)
