Mindanao livelihood programs planned

Construction and mechanical work will be the main

focus of livelihood programs that the government is

offering to help Mindanao residents recover from the

recent conflict.

Director General Edicio de la Torre of the Technical

Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said

this focus is twofold, as it also aims to accelerate

Mindanao's rehabilitation.

"Sa construction tinetrain namin. Ang first livelihood,

maintenance, and repair ng kalsada (We are training them

in construction. Our first priority is livelihood projects

through the repair and maintenance of roads)," Dela Torre

said on radio.

Upon the orders of President Estrada, the government is

rushing the implementation of rehabilitation and repair

work for infrastructure in Mindanao damaged by the

recent conflict.

Dela Torre said his office is also encouraging Mindanao

residents to learn four skills he said it could bring them

extra income.

He said these skills involve small engine repair, appliance

and electronic repair, basic electricity, and the

manufacture of costume jewelry.

The TESDA also offers courses on weaving and food

processing, De la Torre added.

In offering these courses, De la Torre said TESDA hopes

to give former Muslim fighters the necessary tools to lead

productive lives.

He said that in the past, many former Muslim fighters

resorted to fighting mainly because of their poverty and

lack of livelihood skills.

AFP plan

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is set to

implement "Oplan Balangay (Battle of Barangays)," a

four-pronged military and civil development approach to

counter the armed rebellion of the Moro Islamic Liberation

Front (MILF) in several critical areas in Mindanao.

In a press conference at the Department of National

Defense (DND) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, DND

Secretary Orlando Mercado said that "Oplan Balangay" is

a revised version of the "Oplan Lambat Bitag (Venus Fly

Trap)" which was widely credited for the drastic decrease

of the strength of New People's Army (NPA) armed

regulars in the recent years.

According to Mercado, the Oplan Balangay will involve the

clearing, holding, consolidation and development phases

of operations in MILF controlled and threatened areas in

Mindanao.

The clearing operations will entail military offensives in

order to flush out armed MILF guerrillas in a barangay

while the holding phase will prevent the secessionist from

returning to the area.

On the other hand, the consolidation operations will

involve the military in assisting residents to return to their

respective homes from evacuation centers.

The development phase will require the construction of

vital infrastructures such as roads, bridges, health

centers, and school buildings to benefit local residents so

as to prevent rebels from deceiving them into fighting the

government.

Mercado stressed that Oplan Balangay is very similar to

Lambat Bitag which was widely credited by US military

authorities for the decrease of NPA strength from its all

time high of 26,800 in 1986 down to 5,600 in 1998.

Oplan Lambat Bitag, which was implemented by then

Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos and then AFP Chief of

Staff Gen. Lisandro Abadia, in the late 80s was

conceptualized by Col. Victor Corpuz.

In 1970, Corpuz defected to the NPA but later

surrendered to government authorities after he was

disappointed with the human rights abuses of the

communist rebels.

After he was released from prison in 1986, Corpuz rejoined

the AFP and later became instrumental in the formulation

of Oplan Lambat Bitag based on his exploits and

experiences in the NPA movement.

Corpuz, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA)

class 1967, is now a consultant of the DND on peace and

unification matters.