COTABATO CITY—A total of seventeen (17) former combatants from different groups received on Wednesday, Aug. 17, livelihood assistance from the Project Tulong ng Gobyernong Nagmamalasakit (TUGON) of the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT).
After returning to the fold of the law, said project beneficiaries are expected to transform themselves into productive members of society and ensure that they will not revert back to unlawful activities.
Of the number, four (4) recipients received ‘payong-payong’ amounting to Php70,000.00; one (1) received a Mag Boat amounting to Php60,000.00; six (6) received Php50,000.00 worth of bigasan and sari-sari store; and nine (9) beneficiaries received Php50,000.00 worth of agricultural supply and clothing shops.
Cotabato City’s appointed sectoral Deputy Mayor for the Chinese Community Narciso Co Yu Ekey, who is known for being a good businessman, shared his ideas on business management.
“Sa pamamalakad ng negosyo, mahalaga na pinapanatili natin ang sab’r [patience] dahil hindi simple o madali ang mapatakbo ng negosyo. Kailangan ay meron kang passion, concentration, at respeto sa iyong kapwa,” said Narciso.
Prior to project distribution, recipients underwent validation, assessment, and monitoring upon receiving their respective livelihood assistance.
Taya Salem, 20, one of the beneficiaries and a brother of former combatant from the Special Geographic Area (SGA), said he was grateful for the livelihood support extended to them.
“Malaking tulong po itong hanap-buhay program na ibinigay sa mga katulad namin na ang pangunahing hanap-buhay ay pagsasaka. Nagpapasalamat kami dahil kahit namayapa na ang aking kapatid, ay binigyan pa rin kami ng pagkakataon na mapabilang sa mga beneficiaries,” Salem said.
Aside from the provision of livelihood package, financial education and mentoring were also conducted to help former combatants understand the concepts in managing their finances-PR
