MAGUINDANAO – More than 100 decommissioned Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants and their families have completed a month-long skills training on electrical installation and maintenance, and organic fertilizer production organized by the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education – Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD).
The trainees received their certificates of completion during a ceremony held on Monday, March 28, at at Datu Pandan, Talayan Municipality in this province.
“In the several years of MILF’s struggle and participation in Jihad to protect our Bangsamoro homeland, they have the right to serve and develop their livelihood and socio-economic capacity and be able to normalize their lives,” said MBHTE-TESD Director-General Engr. Ruby Andong.
“Since some of the decommissioned MILF combatants were senior citizens who were not capable to participate in and undergo skills training, MBHTE-TESD allows their families to join the skills training which is appropriate to their desire and ability,” Andong added.
The training was conducted by Al-Mani Farmers’ Cooperative (AFC) and Mamasapano Technical Vocational Education and Training Center (MTVETC).
“Isa sa aming mga hangarin ay ang matulungan ang mga decommissioned combatants na magkaroon ng karagdagang hanap-buhay kabilang narin dito ay ang tinatawag nating KSA or Knowledge, Skills and Attitude na magdadala sakanila panibagong buhay at higit na makatulong sa lipunan,” said Engr. Mansor Akmad who served as administrator of MTVETC.
“Hindi lang actual skills training ang kanilang natutunan kundi kung paano nila ito pahalagahan at gamitin ang kasanayan sa ating komunidad,” he added.
Excitement and gratitude was seen in Faisal Kaingko, 37, from Cotabato City, who worked hard in completing his training on electrical installation.
“Mahalaga ang kasanayan na aming natutunan, sapagkat ito ay magagamit sa mga tahanan ng bawat isa at magkakaroon pa kami ng ibang pagkakakitaan,” Kaingko said.
“Libre lamang ang skills training, kaya para sa amin malaking oportunidad ang ganitong programa,” he added.
Meanwhile, School President of AFC Bagiyan Angeles, said: “Kabilang sa kanilang pagsasanay ay kung paano magkaroon ng organic fertilizer na ang supply material ay nasa locality lamang dahil ito ay makakatulong na mabawasan ang gastusin sa pagsasaka.”
“Ibinahagi namin kung paano magkaroon ng libreng pataba na makikita sa kapaligiran at makatutulong na maibalik ang sigla ng lupa, upang hindi na tayo umaasa sa mga pataba na nagmumula sa labas,” he added.
MBHTE-TESD organized the livelihood skills training in collaboration with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) and the Task Force on the Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities (TFDCC).
Among the priorities of the Bangsamoro Government, all decommissioned combatants will be given a chance to undergo livelihood skills training to boost socio-economic development which will help them in their transition to peaceful and productive members of society under the Normalization Program, also known as Executive Order No. 79 of the President.
Since January 2022, MBHTE-TESD has trained 1,394 MILFs combatants and their families who have completed courses in welding, electrical installation and maintenance, agricultural farming, dressmaking, cookery, shielded metal arc welding, and other skills training which will yield to employment. (Johaira B. Sahidala/BIO)
