TACLOBAN CITY- Some 135 surviving families of the victims of the Inopacan purging of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the 1980s, from Baybay City, Mahaplag and Inopacan, all in Leyte, are the target of help from the various government agencies under Executive Order 70.
Twelve years after the exhumation of the mass grave on September 2, 2006, these surviving families will be the recipients of collective help from the government.
Dubbed “Special ELCAC Convergence Mission,” with the theme “Halad of Panaghiusa Alang sa Kalinaw ug Kalambuan,” the launching is set on October 29 in Baybay City with no less than National Task Force to End Communist Armed Conflict Vice-Chairperson Secretary Hermogenes Esperon Jr. and Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Eastern Visayas Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario in attendance.
Before the launching, a series of dialogues and consultations with the beneficiaries were made by the military, TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority)-Leyte, the province of Leyte, and the local government units in order to know the felt needs of the families.
The services and programs that will be delivered by various agencies are the answers to the concerns of the surviving families.
During the launching, various government agencies and local government units like the province of Leyte, TESDA, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) are expected to unveil their projects/programs for the surviving families.
The beneficiaries were organized into associations in order to get accreditation from the DOLE.
The DSWD will provide financial assistance in the amount of P5,000 cash assistance to each of the 135 surviving families.
TESDA Leyte will provide various livelihood training as requested by the beneficiaries.
The province of Leyte will conduct a medical and dental mission and will provide free reading glasses and agri services, free seeds, and lecture on preventive medicines.
TESDA will make available free manicure, pedicure, haircut for both men and women, and hilot wellness to the family-beneficiaries, during the convergence caravan.
The DOLE will accredit the associations of beneficiaries so that they can avail of livelihood funding by the agency.
Meanwhile, PIA will organize the beneficiaries into information volunteers network so that they will be empowered to communicate their concerns and the help given by the government. (PIA-8)
