THE 219 decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants have received a support fund allowance from the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education-Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The distribution of the fund allowance was held Thursday, May 12, in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, after they completed skills training.
The grant of subsidy is part of the MBHTE's flagship program in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), which aims to uplift the socio-economic status of MILF combatants through the Executive Order No. 79, also known as Normalization Program.
“Aside from free skills training, the program also includes allowances and financial assistance for decommissioned combatants for them to build small businesses little by little, and at the same time, to apply those skills they learned in their daily lives,” said Mohammad-Alli Diang, MBHTE-TESD Maguindanao provincial normalization focal person.
Each of the beneficiaries received P160 daily allowance depending on the number of days or duration of each course.
They also received an additional P1000 worth of financial assistance for their personal protective equipment during the training.
One of the trainees in carpentry, Bainara Fermin, 52, who received P7,560, expressed her gratitude for being a beneficiary of BARMM government’s free skills training and financial assistance.
“We learned a lot of things, I didn’t expect that I’ve completed such skills training which can help our day-to-day work. Aside from teaching us for free, they also supported us by giving allowances which will help us a lot,” Fermin said.
“Being a woman is not a hindrance to learn skills in carpentry and I thank the BARMM government for this (opportunity). This shows and proves that they are not neglecting us,” Fermin added. (SunStar Zamboanga)