Latest news with #SustainableLivelihoodProgram
GMA Network
3 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
OPAPRU to give financial aid to ex-communist rebels
The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) will give financial support to former members of rebel groups following talks led by Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. In a statement Sunday, OPAPRU said Galvez led a dialogue with 44 former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) from Regions 10, 11, 12, and 13. Under the Sustainable Livelihood Program, eight people's organizations (POs) will receive P500,000 each to fund various livelihood projects in their communities. Special Assistant to the President Secretary Antonio Ernesto Floirendo Lagdameo, Jr. also pledged to distribute P2 million worth of financial assistance to four other POs. 'We know the challenges all of you had to face as a result of your decision to turn away from armed struggle and return to the folds of the law. Rest assured that we will help to rebuild your lives and create a better future for yourselves and your families,' Galvez said. Galvez also led the turnover of safe conduct passes to four former rebel group members. The safe conduct passes will ensure their safety and security, as they can attend to their amnesty applications without fear of being arrested. 'With these safe conduct passes, you no longer have to look over your shoulder whenever you leave your homes. You can now focus on your most important task, which is processing your amnesty applications,' Galvez said. 'As we have emphasized, amnesty is the best policy. With the granting of amnesty, you will be able to rebuild your lives, complete your transformation, and create a better future for yourselves and your families,' he added. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcos wants PWDs to have safe access to transportation
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. instructed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that persons with disabilities have safe access to public transport. ''Ang instruction nga ng Pangulo tulad ng nasabi ko kanina, siguraduhin na may safe na public transport at accessible na public transport para sa ating mga kababayan na may kapansanan,'' DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a Palace press briefing. (The President gave an instruction for the DSWD to ensure safe and accessible public transport for PWDs.) Gatchalian earlier inspected three electric buses intended for persons with disabilities at the DSWD Central Office. The provision of electric vehicles is under the DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program's (SLP) Persons with Disabilities – Electric Transportation Service (PWD-ETS) Project. The PWD-ETS is a pilot project that aims to provide livelihood grants to persons with disabilities in SLPAs to purchase electric vehicles that are disability-friendly. The said project will enable the beneficiaries to earn income while helping other persons with disabilities to safely access modes of transportation. Each SLPA is composed of 115 members who are all persons with disabilities from 10 local government units in Metro Manila. Gatchalian said the DSWD would work with the Department of Transportation to scale up this measure. ''The goal talaga is palawakin, palawigin, paramihin not just in Metro Manila but also in the other Metro areas para mas magkaroon ng accessible at safe na space para sa ating mga people with disability,'' he said. (The goal is to widen and extend this not just in Metro Manila but also in the other metro areas to provide accessible and safe space for PWDs.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
