In line with the effort to promote peace-building initiatives in conflict-vulnerable areas, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is conducting house-to-house visits for the ‘Kamustahan’ which aims to validate and assess the 1,500 decommissioned combatants (DCs) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) across Davao Region from October 4-11.
DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns (ISPSC) Alan Tanjusay said the ongoing home visits are part of the agency’s re-engagement activities for DCs to identify areas of support for their gradual reintegration to their families and communities.
“We have deployed more than 100 social workers and project development officers to facilitate our visits to the MILF decommissioned combatants,” Undersecretary Tanjusay said.
Undersecretary Tanjusay previously conducted courtesy calls with the local government officials of Davao City, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, and Davao Del Sur from October 1 to 3 in preparation for the region-wide visits.
A three-day preparatory dialogue with the governors and top provincial government officials of the four areas was also held to ensure their support for the re-engagement activities for the DCs residing in their areas of jurisdiction.
“The DSWD secured the support, cooperation, and collaboration of provincial local government units (LGUs) in the region in making sure the home visits are felt and valued by the decommissioned combatants and their families,” Undersecretary Tanjusay pointed out.
Facilitating close coordination with the LGUs also opened discussion on their available local programs and how these can help with reintegration efforts.
“Most importantly, these provincial governments welcome the DSWD referral and mainstreaming of decommissioned combatants and their families, and they also provide their own services and programs in support of the Normalization program,” the DSWD official noted.
The preparation and conduct of the re-integration activities were anchored on the Comprehensive Agreement on Bangsamoro (CAB) between the government and the MILF.
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) is the oversight agency for the said efforts, with the DSWD as one of the partner-agencies contributing to the Normalization of Decommissioned Combatants.
The normalization track of the Bangsamoro peace process involves the decommissioning of 40,000 MILF combatants and their firearms, as well as their transformation to civilian and productive members of society through the provision of socioeconomic development programs and other peace dividends.
