FORMER rebels in Zamboanga Peninsula are set to receive livelihood training to enable them to start a new life.

This, as the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) led by Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) headed by regional director Dan Navarro have agreed to provide livelihood training to former rebels here in the region.

Navarro proposed the tie-up when he and Sobejana recently met as Tesda plans to offer courses to assist former rebels and the unemployed.

Sobejana told Navarro during the meeting that the program should not end with the training but with the employment to prevent radicalism and exploitation of the vulnerable individuals or sector.

Sobejana foresees collaboration between Tesda and Westmincom as a win-win solution to the perennial issue affecting security and stability here in Mindanao.

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.

So far, hundreds of New People’s Army rebels and Abu Sayyaf bandits have already surrendered to the government since January this year. (SunStar Zamboanga)