TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed its benchmarking study and field research on the agency’s peace and development programs in the provinces of Samar and Leyte conducted from June 26 to 28.
“The results of the benchmarking study and field research will be included in the enhancements to the Case Management Guide for handling cases of former members of non-state armed groups (FMNSG) and utilized for enhancing the peace and development programs and services for the members of FMNSG’s eventual reintegration into the community,” said Salvador Arcangel VIII, social healing unit head of the DSWD’s newly established Peace and Development Buong Bansa Mapayapa-National Program Management Office (PDBBM-NPMO).
The team, composed of members from the Office of the Undersecretary for Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns (OUSISPSC), PDBBM-NPMO, and the DSWD Field Office-8 (Eastern Visayas), partnered with the local government units (LGUs) of the two provinces.
They were joined by regional representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Over three days, the team visited the town of San Isidro in Leyte province and Calbiga in Samar.
They conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with former Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and ‘militia ng bayan’ members.
They also interviewed provincial and municipal social welfare and development officers, E-CLIP focal persons, local leaders, and the president of the Eastern Visayas Federation of former CPP-NPA members.
The field research completes the six phases of data gathering for the FMNSGs, which include the Abu Sayyaf Group, Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People’s Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA), Dawlah Islamiyah (Maute Group), KAPATIRAN, and the CPP-NPA.
“The CM Guide enhancement is in line with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directive to identify effective psychosocial interventions, in addition to short-term cash and material assistance, for the former rebels’ full transformation as they get reintegrated into their communities,” Arcangel added.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
