NEGROS ORIENTAL – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Regional Field Office VII has trained and developed 81 former rebels in Barangay Siapo, San Jose town in Negros Oriental to become local businessmen through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), a special government project called Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) that supports the Peace Negotiation Track and contributes to the goal of attaining Just and Lasting Peace.
According to DSWD-7 regional information officer Leah Quintana that sometime in May 2017 these former rebels in Barangay Siapo, San Jose town in Negros Oriental took their first step into the new world introduced by the SLP-PAMANA.
They started to participate and attend meetings to rediscover living life the peaceful way rather than living the hard and dangerous life of being fugitives. Quintana said that the project is designed to respond and strengthen peace-building, reconstruction and development in conflict-affected (CAA) and vulnerable areas (CVAs).
The SLP-PAMANA’s goal is to strengthen resiliency by improving the socio-economic capacity of the communities and families in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas in the countryside and to increase people’s participation in identifying community development projects that will lead to economic empowerment.
Quintana bared that the 81 former rebels who registered themselves as the Hiniusang Magbabaol sa Siapo Association, proposed for a rice retailing business. On October 5, 2017 the group’s proposal was approved and the seed capital fund worth Php 500,000 were granted to them and they invested it in the rice retailing business.
It has been three years now since they decided
to go back to the folds of the law and change their lives for the better,
Quintana noted that the SLP PAMANA’s intervention has indeed changed their
lives from rebels to entrepreneurs.
“Dako ang kalahian. Sauna mahadlok mi mogawas, karon dili na. Makahalobilo nami ni bisan kinsa dili na kami mag tago-tago kay mahadlok sa militar. Wa mi masayop sa among decision dako og natabang ang gobyerno sa amoa, especially sa pundo capital sa among negosyo,” Julien Corpuz, the association’s business operations manager (BOM). (There is a big difference. Before we were afraid to go out, now we can already mingle with anyone. We are not hiding anymore, and we are not afraid of the military. We made the right decision, the government helped us a lot especially the funds that we used for business),”
Julien added that the rice retailing business they received from SLP-PAMANA has not only helped them but also created an impact to the economic status of their community.
Rebecca Rendora also said that the association has helped its members a lot. They always look forward to the profit share they get from their business. “We used it to buy our basic needs. During trying times, we can also avail of credit. We can get feeds or basic commodities from the store subject to the policies of the association,” Rendora added.
The Hiniusang Magbabaol sa Siapo Association lines up to its association’s name. They remain united and worked hard to achieve their goal. The association has now an average monthly income of Php 300,000 with tangible assets worth Php 165,254.83 including the building and the lot where the rice retailing store is located, Quintana revealed.
From 81 members the association has increased to 90 active members. They look forward to expanding their business links and venture into online selling. The members believed that they could make it big and they would remain united. (Photos: DSWD-7)
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