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| On August 4, 2022, the DOLE Regional Office VIII gave P400,000 in livelihood grants to 35 former rebels and underemployed members of MIPWDA. Photo: DOLE Region 8 |
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office VIII distributed P400,000 in livelihood grants to 35 former rebels and underemployed members of the Mahaplag Integrated Peace and Development Workers Association (MIPWDA) on August 4, 2022.
During the turnover ceremony, which took place at the Brgy. Poblacion Gymnasium in Mahaplag, 30 of the beneficiaries received rice retailing projects worth P250,000, while the remaining five (5) received sari-sari store projects worth P150,000.
DOLE-WLFO Director Edgar Tabuyan, Vice Mayor Myrna Solis, and 1st Lt. Jayson Ray Jaramillo of the Army's 14th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Division were among those in attendance.
Tabuyan emphasized the government's efforts to assist former rebels as they sought to return to the folds of the law in his message.
"We are here to help you on your new path as law-abiding citizens. And we hope to see you succeed with these livelihood projects," Tabuyan said.
DOLE's livelihood project with Mahaplag supports the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), which ultimately aims to end the rebellion.