LIVELIHOOD SETTLEMENT GRANT. Former rebels from Iloilo attend an orientation on the livelihood settlement grant from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) this May. The department is eyeing the release of the PHP20,000 fund for each recipient before the end of the first semester this year. (Photo courtesy of Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo FB page)
ILOILO CITY – A total of 151 former New People's Army rebels from Iloilo province are expected to receive their livelihood settlement grant from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) before the end of June.
The DSWD annually allocates funds for 164 formers rebels on a first-come, first-served basis under its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) as part of its commitment as a member of the livelihood cluster of the Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
This year Iloilo has the biggest endorsement of 151 former rebels.
“They are certified former rebels. We only entertain if they have an endorsement from the E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) and a joint AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) intelligence clearance,” SLP Regional Program Management Office head Mary Ann Masculino said in an interview on Saturday.
Masculino said each former rebel is entitled to cash assistance of PHP20,000 for a proposed project.
The target recipients are coached to help identify a project and ensure income generation.
“Most of the proposals that we received are animal-raising, like hog-fattening, and carabao-raising; corn production; and furniture making. Hopefully, we can serve them before the semester ends since there are already approved proposals,” she added.
She said should their chosen project fail to prosper, the cause of their failure would be assessed.
If necessary, the beneficiaries would again be referred to other social services.
After the assessment by the E-CLIP, the former rebels will be referred to the PRLEC if they need livelihood intervention.
“The case manager is the local government unit and we only augment at the DSWD for them to engage in a productive activity,” Masculino said. (PNA)
