A total of 110 former rebels from Masbate received Livelihood Settlement Grants (LSGs) through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) amounting to P 2,200,000.00.

The payout and awarding of LSGs was held at the Philippine Army Camp, Brgy. Baclay, Milagros, Masbate last February 17-19, 2021, attended by LTC Siegfred F. Awichen, Governor Antonio Kho, Aroroy Mayor Virtucio, Balud Mayor Lim, Masbate City Mayor Tuason and Mobo Mayor Salvacion, PSWDO Amy Danao and DSWD-SLP Employees.

Under DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 3, series of 2020 or the Revised Guidelines in the Implementation of Executive Order No. 70, series of 2018, the Department of Social Welfare and Development through the Sustainable Livelihood Program, is one of the leading institutions in the implementation institutionalizing the whole-of-nation approach in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace, creating a national task force to end local communist armed conflict, and directing the adoption of a national peace framework.

Each former rebel received P20,000 under the Sustainable Livelihood Program of DSWD. Of the 110 FRs, forty-four (44) came from the municipality of Aroroy, one (1) from Mandaon, forty-five (45) from Balud, eleven (11) from Masbate City, five (5) from Milagros, and four (4) from Mobo.

SLP caters to FRs for LSG once profiled and issued with JAPIC certification issued by the E-CLIP Committee. The profiling of FRs is part of case management to determine their economic status. The SLP-RPMOs through the SLP EO 70 focal assesses the endorsed list and meets with concerned member-agencies of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) Poverty Reduction, Livelihood and Employment Cluster (PRLEC) to determine the needed livelihood assistance to avoid duplication of assistance and maximize government resources.

The LSG is a financial assistance directly provided to each eligible Former Rebel (FR) to support the establishment or continuity of their livelihoods or economic activities in their communities. The LSG can be used as seed capital to start-up new or existing feasible and viable micro-enterprises or purchase inputs or starter kits needed for the identified micro-enterprises.