KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), through its Localizing Normalization Implementation (LNI) Program, in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) XII, conducted a series of Skills Training Orientations for 175 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Decommissioned Combatants (DCs) as part of the ongoing normalization process in South Cotabato.
The orientation activities were held recently in Barangay Lampari, Banga, and Barangay Sumbakil, and Barangay Bunao, Tupi.
Provincial Social Welfare Officer Sonia L. Bautista emphasized the importance of equipping former MILF members with practical skills and opportunities that can help them achieve sustainable livelihoods and build a more secure future for their families.
“Ang skills training program na ito ay isang mahalagang hakbang upang mabigyan ang ating mga decommissioned combatants ng dagdag na kaalaman at kasanayan na maaari nilang gamitin upang magkaroon ng kabuhayan at mas matatag na kinabukatan para sa kanilang pamilya. Higit sa training, nais nating mabigyan sila ng konkretong oportunidad para sa kanilang matagumpay at sustainable na reintegration sa komunidad,” Bautista said.
The orientations aimed to familiarize the participating friends rescued with the objectives, processes, schedules, requirements, and expected outcomes of the skills training program, while preparing them to participate in various technical and livelihood-oriented training courses.
“The training offerings include Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Carpentry, Business Management and Financial Literacy, Driving, and Organic Agriculture,” Bautista said.
These training opportunities are designed to enhance participants’ technical knowledge, practical competencies, and livelihood capabilities, providing them with opportunities to develop sustainable sources of income and strengthen their capacity for productive and peaceful reintegration into their communities.
The MILF DCs Skills Training Program is being implemented from August to October 2026, with training activities conducted simultaneously in identified areas across the province.
Participants will receive hands-on training and competency-based learning aligned with their chosen areas of interest. Qualified trainees may also undergo TESDA competency assessment and, upon meeting the prescribed standards, may receive the corresponding National Certificate (NC) II or NC I, depending on the qualification and training program undertaken.
“The skills training component is part of broader efforts to support the goals of the normalization process by providing decommissioned combatants with opportunities for skills development, livelihood generation, economic participation, and community reintegration,” Bautista further explained.
The activity was attended by and received support from representatives of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity–Localizing Normalization Implementation (OPAPRU-LNI), the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office XII–Peace and Development Buong Bansa Mapayapa (DSWD XII-PDBBM), the Transitional Families Development and Coordination Committee (TFDCC), TESDA XII, Barangay Local Government Units (BLGUs), and the participating MILF Decommissioned Combatants.
The collaboration among national government agencies, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato, local government units, and other stakeholders reflect a continuing commitment to advancing the normalization process and ensuring that MILF DCs have meaningful opportunities to develop their skills, establish sustainable livelihoods, and reintegrate peacefully into their communities.
Through initiatives such as the MILF DCs Skills Training Program, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato and its partners continue to implement interventions that promote self-reliance, economic empowerment, peaceful reintegration, and inclusive community development as part of the ongoing pursuit of lasting peace in the province.
