PASIG CITY (May 3)— Presidential Peace Adviser Mel Senen Sarmiento has directed the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU) to closely work with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and concerned local government units to ensure immediate assistance for former New People’s Army (NPA) combatants and non-combatants affected by the recent Mayon Volcano eruption.
Sarmiento said OPAPRU field teams have been instructed to assess the situation of former rebel communities in Albay and ensure that necessary support is provided.
He stressed that the agency must remain responsive and visible to communities under its peacebuilding programs, especially during emergencies, assuring that no one is left behind.
To date, OPAPRU is validating reports covering 42 former rebel combatants under the Joint AFP-PNP Intelligence Committee (JAPIC) and 15 former rebel people’s organizations (FR-POs) with 403 non-combatant members in Albay who may have been affected by ashfall and volcanic activity.
Sarmiento added that coordination will be done with DSWD and LGUs to conduct rapid needs assessments and prevent duplication of government assistance.
He also assured that all relief and support efforts will be properly documented and coursed through official government channels, in line with the Marcos Jr. administration’s whole-of-government approach to peacebuilding and reintegration.
