ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have joined hands to provide livelihood training to former rebels here in the region.
The agreement was reached when Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Westmincom chief, and TESDA regional director Dan Navarro met Thursday in Camp Basilio Navarro, which houses the Westmincom headquarters here.
Navarro proposed the tie-up with the Westmincom as it plans to offer courses to assist former rebels and the unemployed.
“The program should not end with the training but with the employment to prevent radicalism and exploitation of the vulnerable,” Sobejana said during the meeting with Navarro.
Sobejana foresees collaboration between TESDA and Westmincom as a win-win solution to the perennial issue affecting security and stability here in Mindanao.
“We are confident that more of these peace initiatives will materialize for the cessation of armed conflicts and hostilities in this part of the country,” he added.
The TESDA will offer the courses while the Westmincom will identify the beneficiaries of the program geared to make the former rebels into a productive citizen.
Hundreds of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels and Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits have surrendered to the government since January this year. (PNA)