MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 28,000 former rebels and their dependents have returned to the fold of the law since July 2022 and received P1 billion in government assistance to rebuild their lives, Malacañang said on Thursday.
The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) said that 27,897 former rebels and their dependents received livelihood opportunities, education, and other government aid.
The administration continues to pursue reintegration and community development initiatives aimed at providing former rebels and their families with opportunities to contribute to lasting peace, the Palace said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday convened the 10th NTF-Elcac Executive Committee Meeting to review government efforts toward lasting peace and development in conflict-affected communities.
The meeting assessed the task force’s accomplishments and the implementation of programs under the National Action Plan on Unity, Peace, and Development 2025–2028, the Palace said in a statement.
The president directed concerned government agencies to prioritize the transformation program, which provides livelihood opportunities, educational assistance and other support to help former rebels reintegrate into their communities.
Under the Barangay Development Program, the government has allocated P44.9 billion for development projects covering 5,638 of the 9,750 identified isolated areas.
These projects include 978 classrooms, 1,601 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, 1,182 water and sanitation systems, and 556 health stations, benefiting an estimated 16.08 million Filipinos.
The reintegration efforts form part of the administration’s broader peace and development agenda, which seeks to address the socioeconomic conditions in conflict-affected communities through improved access to basic services and sustainable livelihoods.
The program also extends assistance to their families, with at least 3,911 dependents receiving scholarships under the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan Educational Assistance Program.