The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Peace and Development Buong Bansa Mapayapa Program (PDBBM) and in partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), conducted a cash-for-work (CFW) payout for 1,433 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) decommissioned combatants on Wednesday (December 17).
Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay of the DSWD’s Peace and Development Group (PDG) emphasized that the initiative goes beyond financial assistance and serves as a strategic intervention to strengthen communities and sustain peace.
“Layunin nitong itaguyod ang pangmatagalang katatagan sa ekonomiya, pagpapaunlad ng pamayanan, at mas matibay na kapayapaan sa pamamagitan ng pakikilahok sa mabuting pamamahala at pagkakaisa sa komunidad,” Undersecretary Tanjusay said in his message during the payout held at Camp Darapanan in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat.
The payout, which was in coordination with DSWD Field Office (FO) 12 – SOCCSKSARGEN, forms part of the national government’s broader peace-building and socio-economic reintegration initiatives under the normalization track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that prioritizes the restoration of livelihoods and rebuilding the lives of decommissioned combatants and their families.
The cash-for-work program directly addresses the immediate needs of MILF decommissioned combatants (DCs) and their families, including support for food, medical requirements, education, shelter, livelihood, and skills development.
The program also establishes a foundation for long-term economic stability by promoting community participation, social cohesion, and sustainable livelihood strategies.
Undersecretary Tanjusay said the activity promotes unity by encouraging participants to set aside cultural and social differences, underscoring that all Filipinos share a common nation and collective responsibility for peace and development.
“Ito ay salapi ng mamamayang Pilipino na ipinagkakaloob sa inyo. Sana ito ay magbunga ng kaunlaran at kapayapaan sa ating lahat,” Undersecretary Tanjusay pointed out.
Through the PDBBM, the DSWD continues to implement holistic interventions such as livelihood assistance, educational support, and community-based development programs that aim to transform former conflict-affected areas into productive and resilient communities.
“Huwag po kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Kasama ninyo kami sa paglalakbay na ito. Ang bawat hakbang na inyong tinatahak ngayon ay hakbang tungo sa mas maliwanag na kinabukasan, isang kinabukasan na may kapayapaan, kaunlaran, at karangalan,” Undersecretary Tanjusay said.
As the Bangsamoro advances on its path toward lasting peace, the DSWD reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind—especially those who have chosen peace, reconciliation, and nation-building as their way of life. (KB)
