Davao del Sur – Twenty One (21) former rebels in Davao Del Sur receives a fresh start as they enter the 3-month holistic transformation program on October 28, 2020, in Barangay Kinuskusan, Bansalan, in Davao Del Sur through the Tupad-Pangako Program (TPP) of the Provincial Government of Davao Del Sur,10th Infantry Division Philippine Army, Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center Foundation (MBRLC), together with other government agencies.
The former rebels will be reoriented and reorganized to abandon communist terrorist views and acknowledge the legitimacy of the government. A 13-week program is set to discuss and tackle the three components of TPP under deradicalization, BOOST program, and the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip) with spiritual enlightenment and assistance for a complete transformation.
MGen. Basiao has encouraged the partnership of the Private sector, specifically the Mindanao Baptists Rural Life Center in the FR Reintegration program under E Clip. It can be recalled that the spiritual programs and the approaches to the sustainable development of MBRLC have been an inspiration in creating the Halfway House for FRs of Davao Oriental.
MGen Basiao further observed that the current Tupad-Pangako Program of Davao del Sur in collaboration with other National Gov’t Agencies and the private sector is a more comprehensive package on FR Reintegration; indeed a manifestation of the Whole of Nation approach in ending the local armed conflict.
“Today, you can see the level of sincerity and concern of the government towards you (former rebels) with the realization of TPP in Davao Del Sur, this is it,” Major General Basiao said in his speech.
With TPPs launch, 10th Infantry Division Commander Major General Reuben Basiao PA lauds the forerunners of the program especially the provincial government of Davao Del Sur for playing a big part in the crafting of the E-CLIP program and EO 70 and with MBLRC Chairman Roy Alimoane spearheading the initiative in 2009.
On the other hand, MBLRC Chairman Roy Alimoane said in his message that despite being a small organization, the MBLRC with the program will be beneficial to the Former Rebels.
“Our mission here is to give an impact. The only promise we can give you is we will try our best to help the programs of the government. We will teach you the real meaning of abundant life here in the rural center,” Alimoane said.
The program is also the first of its kind as it embodies the whole-of-the-nation approach of the government under executive order no. 70. TPP also falls under Davao Del Sur’s “I HELP” Program, which stands for Infrastructure, Health, Education, Livelihood, Peace, and Order.
Davao Del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas during the signing of the memorandum of agreement of the TPP at the provincial capitol in Digos City shared to the signatories of the agreement that the program is the fulfillment of the government’s promise and vows its full support towards former rebels in guiding them towards their reintegration to the mainstream society.
The former rebels will be equipped with knowledge and skills to achieve a sustainable livelihood after the program with practical human development and will be encouraged to become agriculturally productive, economically sound, and spiritually mature.
With the kick-off of the Tupad-Pangako Program in Davao Del Sur, the 10th Infantry Agila Division under its area of responsibility has a total of 9 halfway houses for its former rebels. (DPAO 10th ID | Joint Task Force Agila | OIC Michael Manguhig, RPN DXKT Davao)