The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) formalizes a partnership with various industry stakeholders through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing for on-the-job training and employment opportunities for project beneficiaries who are members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on November 6, 2024, in Cotabato City. (Michael Camsa/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Former combatants of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are set to undergo skills training program after a signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the BARMM’s Education Ministry and industry stakeholders on Nov. 6, 2024.
The training, implemented through the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education-Technical Education Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD), aims to equip former combatants with practical skills, enhancing their employability and easing their transition into formal jobs.
Salehk Mangelen, MBHTE-TESD Maguindanao Provincial Director, emphasized the role of industry experts in delivering hands-on training, helping build a more peaceful and prosperous future.
“This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to promote peace and stability by empowering MILF members with practical skills, enhancing their employability, and supporting their transition into formal employment,” Mangelen said.
Beneficiaries from camps Abubakar, Omar, Rajah-Muda, and Bad’r will undergo extensive on-the-job training across various industries, aiming to create employment pathways and improve service quality.
“We hope this initiative sparks long-term industry support, enabling our communities to thrive and elevate their socioeconomic status,” Mangelen added.
The program also covers transportation and meals, ensuring trainees can participate without financial constraints. Miranda Abdullah Karim, CFSI director for Mindanao, emphasized ongoing support for a successful training experience.
“We envision this as just the starting point,” Karim stated.
“This project’s success is not solely ours, but a testament to our communities’ achievements and if they demonstrate excellent performance, we encourage you to hire them. Let them to step out of their comfort zones and become integral members of society,” he added.
Mending Dacay, 53, president of Mansion Bake Shop from Buluan, is committed to empowering former combatants through comprehensive training and employment opportunities.
“We are dedicated to equipping our former combatants with essential skills and endorsing them to various bakery industries, ultimately providing them with meaningful employment,” Dacay shared, reflecting on his own journey as a TESD training graduate.
By supporting the transformation of former combatants, Dacay and Mansion Bake Shop are contributing to a more inclusive and prosperous community.
The MBHTE will collaborate with the Community and Family Services International (CFSI) and Technical Vocational Institutions (TVI), under the Communities for Learning and Employment Project (CLEP), to spearhead the program.
This initiative aligns with the Bangsamoro Government’s vision to provide balanced and promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
