KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato – South Cotabato reinforced its peace efforts as 555 former rebels, now recognized as Friends Rescued (FRs), returned to the fold of the law during the 4th FR Summit held at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center.
The former rebels expressed gratitude for rebuilding their lives after receiving a wide range of programs and services from the provincial government.
These include free healthcare and education, road improvements, livelihood assistance, and financial aid from various government agencies.
The summit also brought frontline services closer to the returnees. On-site offerings included medical and dental check-ups, eye examinations, haircuts, massages, manicures, pedicures, and distribution of food packs.
Agencies such as PhilHealth, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-South Cotabato, and the Social Security System (SSS) were present to facilitate membership registration, national ID processing, and orientation sessions. Other services included the “YAKAP” program and assistance for amnesty applications.
Of the 555 FRs, 226 surrendered their firearms. Ninety-one of these have already been demilitarized, while the remaining are still undergoing processing.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Sustainable Livelihood Program, and the Provincial Government of South Cotabato also extended additional support packages, including ₱20,000 in financial aid.
Since the assumption of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. in 2019, South Cotabato has recorded a steady increase in the number of former rebels returning to the law.
Provincial officials attribute this to “Tama kag Maayo nga Serbisyo,” which continues to build trust in government and strengthen peaceprovince-wide.
