At least 37,000 former rebels, including communists, Muslim separatists, and Abu Sayyaf bandits, have benefited from government livelihood programs, according to Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 8,000 New People’s Army former (NPA) members benefited from the said livelihood program.
The sustainable livelihood programs, ranging from PHP100,000 to PHP300,000 for groups of 25, have enabled former rebels to establish businesses, with 78% making progress.
Additionally, 1,000 families of former rebels have received housing units through the DSWD’s Pamana project, in collaboration with the military and other agencies. These efforts, part of the government’s “normalization program,” aim to help former combatants reintegrate into society and overcome poverty.
(Source: National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Facebook page)