About a hundred former rebels and mass supporters of communist terrorist groups are expected to get a boost in their income and livelihood after learning food processing skills through the efforts of the government and the Philippine Army.

The trainees who are now members of several people’s organizations (POs) completed on Tuesday the two-day community-based workshops on making processed meat such as tocino and longganisa, smoked fish, salted egg and pineapple jam.

The sessions held inside Camp Jaime Bitong Sr. in Barangay Calabuanan here were facilitated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 3-Aurora Extension Office, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Aurora through the Provincial Training Center-Baler, the office of Aurora Rep. Rommel Rico Angara and the 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB).

Lt. Col. Julito Recto, commander of the 91IB, said during the closing rites that the new skills learned by the rebel returnees and supporters will encourage them to start their own business.

He thanked Angara for being their regular partner together with the other agencies in helping the PO members rebuild their lives.

“We give this training to engage them in entrepreneurship to uplift their lives as well as their community. We always sought for their successful lives growing in their businesses. The opportunity always depends on them on how they manage it successfully,” Recto said.

Angara said his office is always committed to spurring economic growth, alleviating poverty, augmenting healthcare services, and fostering job opportunities for the people of Aurora.

“This training is needed to create more business to benefit our community and the tourists that continually arrive to visit the province’s tourist destinations. Our airport is also being developed to improve accessibility by creating new routes and connections, attracting more tourists and supporting our local tourism industry such as transients, hotels among others. Tourists will buy Aurora products such as tocino, longganisa and other locally made products that will surely benefit local businesses in our province,” the lawmaker said.

Angara also awarded cash assistance and livelihood starter kits to the training attendees.

“Ka Edgar”, leader of the rebel returnees, thanked the 91IB and the government for their sincerity in supporting their needs.

“This training is a big help to us in order to become successful. We will do our best efforts to work together in this endeavor through the guidance of 91st IB,” he said.

TESDA-Aurora officer-in-charge Provincial Director Jerome Lopez said his office is always ready to conduct training for the former insurgents to help them begin their new lives.

“We can arrange training even in the far-flung areas. Thank you, congratulations and I wish you to succeed and become truly part of the province’s sustainable development,” Lopez said. (PNA)