FORTY-ONE former New People's Army (NPA) rebels, now known as "Friends Rescued (FRs)," have received over P100,000 cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (Tupad) program, in Zamboanga del Sur.
The release of cash assistance to the 41 Fs amounting to a total of P129,560 was held Tuesday, February 8, at Good Life Village, Poblacion, Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur.
The recipients of the Tupad assistance were the former NPA rebels who surrendered to the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB).
Tupad is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.
The 53IB said in a statement Wednesday, February 9, that the FRs also received the following: basic orientation on safety and health, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the form of T-shirt and hats, enrollment in group micro-insurance to be included in the total project cost or as counterpart of the ACP/LGU, and Tupad identification card (ID).
The 53IB said the FRs have also signified their intentions to avail themselves of skills training to prepare themselves toward self or wage employment after the project.
The release of cash assistance was facilitated by a team from DOLE-Zamboanga del Sur field office in coordination with other stakeholders to include the 53IB's Civil-Military Operations office. (SunStar Zamboanga)