CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental – A turnover ceremony of Financial Assistance for the Livelihood Arcade for former rebels was held at the Headquarters 58th Infantry Dimalulupig Battalion, last November 24, 2021.
The provincial government of Misamis Oriental, the Local Government Unit of Claveria, and the Department of Labor and Employment Region X each pledged and committed to the Anlag Ani Tapukanan, a sustainable livelihood project for former rebels that will soon rise.
The Anlag Ani Tapukanan was formally presented on October 26, 2021, at Headquarters 58IB, as part of a collaborative project between the PLGU, LGU, national and provincial government agencies, the 58IB Former Rebels Association, and the 58th Infantry Dimalulupig Battalion.
This time, the commitments made last October were finally turned over to the Former Rebels Association. The funds received by the former rebels will be used to build Anlag Ani Tapukanan, a livelihood arcade designed specifically to assist former rebels by providing livelihood opportunities and business venture, also equipping them with the resources they need to sustain them. This is where the former rebels from across Eastern Misamis Oriental will sell and offer to the public all their products, including oyster mushroom and hollow blocks, crops, retail items in their sari-sari store, handcrafted materials like rugs and beaded products, and services such as hair cutting, sewing, and massage, acting as a one-stop shop manned and managed by the former rebels themselves.
The Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, turned over a total of 250,000.00 for the Anlag Ani and Rehabilitation of Mushroom Facility; the LGU of Claveria gave Php200,000; and the DOLE Region X, through the DOLE Integrated Livelihood Program (DILP), DOLE -X Mis. Or. PFO, handed over Php.250,000.00 worth of Grocery items to the 58th FRs Association Consumer Store Project with Medina Rural Waterworks and Sanitation Cooperative (MERWASCO) as its Accredited Co-Partner.
Hon. Meraluna Salvaleon-Abrogar, Municipal Mayor of Claveria, expressed gratitude to the former rebels, stating that their surrender is an integral part of the municipality’s outpouring of developments. “Para sa atong mga igsuong nibalik sa sabakan sa gobyerno, dako kaayo ang akong kalipay ug pasalamat kay isa kana nga ang kahusay ug kalinaw mao na nakapagpalambo sa lungsod sa Claveria na karon nahimo usab ka problema sa mayor kay daghan turista, daghan estranghero, mga tawo na gusto mupuyo sa lungsod sa Claveria dili pariha sa una na puro kahadlok ang ilang gibati diri sa atong lungsod. Isa pa diha, lipay pud kaayo ko makita na daghan na mo diri sa 58IB, kauban pa ang inyong mga anak, mga pamilya. I know na wala gyud moy regrets walay pagbasul sa inyong pagbalik sa sabakan sa gobyerno. One hundred percent ang among kalipay tungod kay pinaagi sa inyong pagsurender, nahimong malinawon ug nilambo ang atong lungsod. Makasalig mo na sa mga umaabot na mga adlaw, bulan, padayon ang pag suporta ug pagtabang sa probinsya sa Misamis Oriental ug sa Claveria na masuportahan ang mga programa sa atong kasundaluhan, kapulisan para sa pagsulbad sa kahusay ug kalinaw.”
Aurelio Pinatawan, a former rebel, also expressed heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the former rebels. “Dako kaayo akong pasalamat sa tanan maam, sir. Kay kanang inyong mga gikahatag sa amoa, mao kana ang makatabang sa amo sa pag-usab sa among kaugalingon na dili lang basta magkakwarta, kundili maimprove ang among panginabuhian. Labi na sa 58IB na gikan mi sa bukid hangtod makaabot mi diri, wala gyuy puwas ang ilang pag-atiman sa amo hangtod karon na ing ani na ang among kahimtang na aduna miy livelihood program na ginahatag sa amo. Dako gyud kaayo ang among pasalamat sa inyo kay kung wala mo, kung wala ang gobyerno, walay mahimong kausaban sa among kinabuhi. Sa ako pung mga kauban, dako pud ang akong pasalamat kay karon niabot na ang ato lang naisto isturya sa una na unsa kaha ang mga assistance sa gobyerno para sa ato. Karon na naa na, magtinabanga ta sa pag-atiman niini.”
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Ricky L Canatoy, Commanding Officer of 58IB, thanked the local governments and agency partners for their unwavering support and for going above and beyond the government’s flagship program, the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. Lt. Col Canatoy reiterates that brilliant ideas and initiatives like this livelihood arcade would not have been possible without the zeal and passion of our public servants to help our former rebels live a peaceful normal life. He then urged the remaining insurgents to return to the folds of the law so that they, too, could benefit from the benefits provided by the government.
The Turnover Ceremony was attended by Hon. Meraluna Salvaleon Abrogar, Municipal Mayor of Claveria, DOLE Region 10 Regional Director Albert E. Gutib, DOLE Mis.Or. PFO Chief Jose Errol A. Natividad, and the PLGU Misamis Oriental, represented by Board Members Boboy Sabal III, Syremae Emano, Dexter Yasay, and Leoncio “Onie” Abejo, Villanueva Councilor. Hon. Christian Unabia, Representative of the 1st District of Misamis Oriental, was also present to witness the event.
