Maramag, Bukidnon — The Department of Social Welfare and Development will soon implement PAMANA or PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn projects in the municipalities of Maramag and Don Carlos, Bukidnon. This is in continuing partnership with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process or OPAPP, the working force of the government towards just and lasting peace for the country, particularly in Mindanao and other conflict affected regions.

PAMANA is the government’s peace and development program that responds and strengthens peace-building, reconstruction and development, in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas, to strengthen communities’ resilience to conflict by improving their socio-economic capacities.

This year, the Kapatiran Community Organization will soon receive PAMANA projects as identified and assessed by OPAPP, through DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program. The group will identify their own livelihood projects based on the PAMANA modalities namely: Manufacturing or Processing Facilities, Equipment for Common Service Facilities, Acquisition and consolidation of goods from suppliers, Selling, Supplying and distributing goods, Transport facilities and the likes.

The Kapatiran Community Organization also known as Kapatiran para sa Progresong Panlipunan (KPP) is composed of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas, Revolutionary Proletarian Army, Alex Boncayao Brigade – Tabara Paduano Group (RPM-P/RPA/ABB-TPG). Although majority of the Kapatiran is based in Negros Island Region, some of its group members left the region and settled in the province of Bukidnon to avoid further conflicts and find their livelihood.

The identified Kapatiran groups in Bukidnon include BACFA or Base Camp Farmer Association of San Miguel, Maramag, Bukidnon and BASARFA or the Barangay Sinangguayan Agrarian Reform Association of Don Carlos, Bukidnon. The associations will receive Five Hundred Thousand pesos (500,000) livelihood assistance each, apart from capability building trainings including basic business and financial management.

“Ang buong Kapatiran ay lubos na nagagalak sa pamahalaan dahil ang nuoy pinapangarap naming kapayapaan at kaunlaran ngayo’y unti-unti nang naisasakatuparan, we (the Kapatiran) are thankful to the government because our aspiration of a peaceful and developed communities are finally being realized”, says Benjie Carion, a former revolutionary now a Project Management Officer to the OPAPP assigned in the province of Bukidnon.

Written by Jamila M. Taha, DSWD