Training on Livelihood Entrepreneurship for Former Rebels

By Ben Cal

Last year's signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the government and the Cordillera Bodong Administration-Cordillera People's Liberation Army (CBA-CPLA) has paid off in transforming the former rebel group into a potent socioeconomic unit after its members underwent training on livelihood entrepreneurship. 

The Entrepreneurship Development Training (EDT) was jointly conducted by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Abra, Mountain Province and Benguet, the home base of the CBA-CPLA.

Another training is scheduled this week in the provinces of Apayao and Kalinga.

EDT is designed to equip CBA-CPLA members with business skills to help improve their lives.

The training is considered as a dividend of peace stemming from the MOA signed between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the CBA-CPLA on July 4 of last year, marking the former rebel group's transformation into a peaceful socioeconomic unit.

Anna Laylo, OPAPP project manager, said the workshop is a primary step before support can be provided for the livelihood projects proposed by CBA-CPLA members under the MOA.

"This training will equip the participants with the necessary business management tools that would help them supervise their businesses well," Laylo said.

These tools include business planning, situation analysis, manpower distribution and marketing.

To put their newly acquired skills into practice, participants are placed in mock situations where they interact with other market players, such as customers, producers and lending institutions, among others.

"The projects they proposed are very feasible and promising," said Johnny G. Pulay, senior trading industry development specialist of DTI-Benguet.

The workshop was pilot-tested in February this year in Ifugao, spearheaded by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-Ifugao.

The attendees in the Benguet training expressed appreciation of the program.

OPAPP pointed to Miguel Toyaoan Jr., one of those who attended the workshop, who said the livelihood program will benefit the CPLA.