KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Rebel returnees in South Cotabato underwent a three-day casket-making training aimed at equipping them with practical livelihood skills and supporting their reintegration into the community.
The initiative forms part of the Provincial Government of South Cotabato’s continuing efforts to provide meaningful and sustainable livelihood opportunities to individuals who have returned to the fold of the government through skills development, livelihood assistance, and reintegration programs.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Sonia L. Bautista said the program, conducted for members of the Bagong Buhay Bagong Pag-asa Rebel Returnees People’s Organization under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), aims to equip beneficiaries with practical casket-making knowledge and skills that can serve as a foundation for sustainable livelihood and an additional source of income for their families.
“Providing livelihood skills is not only about giving them a job or a source of income. It is about allowing them to start anew, build self-confidence, and become productive members of the community. We want to ensure that our Friends Rescued are not only reunited with their families, but are also equipped with the capacity to build a better and more stable future,” Bautista said.
Bautista added that the training will also provide the rebel returnees with opportunities to apply their newly acquired skills for the benefit of their families and communities.
The activity was conducted in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Training Center – Surallah, with the support and active facilitation of the 2nd South Cotabato Provincial Mobile Force Company (2nd SCPMFC).
Throughout the three-day training, participants learned the processes and basic techniques involved in casket making, from the proper use of tools and materials to the assembly and production of caskets.
Beyond technical skills, the program also emphasized strengthening the beneficiaries’ capacity to earn a living and become self-reliant as part of their reintegration and transition toward a new life.
Meanwhile, Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. emphasized that sustainable livelihood is an important component of the reintegration process, helping returnees establish stable lives and avoid circumstances that may lead them back to their previous path.
“Returning to the fold of the government is only the beginning of a new life. We need to continue supporting our returnees in their recovery by providing knowledge, skills, and livelihood opportunities. When they have a stable source of income and the capacity to earn, their families become stronger, and their contributions to the community become more positive,” Governor Tamayo said.
The governor added that the Provincial Government will continue to support programs aimed at helping beneficiaries of reintegration initiatives become more productive and self-reliant.
“What we want is not just short-term assistance. We want to equip them with skills they can use for the long term. Through skills training and livelihood opportunities, we are giving them the chance to earn, work with dignity, and build a better future for their families,” Tamayo added.
Through the training, casket making is expected to become a viable income-generating activity for the participants, particularly when complemented by livelihood assistance, market linkages, and mentoring to help them further develop their enterprises.
The collaboration among various government agencies and organizations also plays a crucial role in implementing the program. Through the partnership among the OPSWDO, TESDA, 2nd SCPMFC, and rebel returnee organizations, support for individuals working to rebuild their lives is further strengthened.
More than a skills training activity, the program serves as a concrete step toward reconciliation, reintegration, and economic empowerment for individuals who have chosen to return to the government fold.
It also demonstrates how providing appropriate skills and opportunities can help beneficiaries build confidence, develop their capabilities, and establish dignified and productive livelihoods.
Through the continuing cooperation of the Provincial Government and its partner agencies, individuals who have faced challenges in the past are given opportunities to pursue a new direction anchored in skills, livelihood, and hope.
Ultimately, the Casket Making Training is not merely about making caskets. More importantly, it is about building new skills, opening new opportunities, and creating a new beginning for individuals who have chosen to return and start anew.
