NINETY (90) rebel returnees are about to receive 45 hectares of agricultural lands after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU), dubbed as Sikap-Buhay Project (SIK-HAY Project) on April 30, 2021, held in Camp BGen Vicente Lim, in Calamba City, Laguna.

SIK-HAY Project is a partnership between the two (2) agencies to capacitate the rebel returnees with farming skills to assume their new roles as farmers and would be provided with lands and other farm inputs and machineries.

The lands that they would receive are idle government lands from three (3) project sites in the provinces of Laguna Quezon and Rizal. Each projects site would be allotted with 15 hectares where 30 rebel returnees would own and collectively cultivate the farm to apply their newly acquired skills and technologies.

DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones said this project is one of the best approach to attain peace in the country.

“People who join rebellion are those who experienced injustices, they have not been treated well by the community, and were set aside. We would want them to trust the government by giving them a comfortable way of life,” Brother John said.

The Secretary added that the department is in full support of this project to win back the rebels into the folds of the law.

PNP Calabarzon Regional Director PBGen Felipe Natividad believes that the program is on the right track, with the DAR as their partner in this endeavor.

“We will work hand in hand to guide the rebel returnees toward the right direction,” he said.

SIYAMNAPUNG (90) rebel returnees ang makatatanggap ng 45 ektaryang lupang agrikultural pagkatapos magkaroon ng pirmahan ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) at ang Philippine National Police (PNP) ng memorandum of understanding (MoU), na tinawag na Sikap-Buhay Project (SIK-HAY Project) na idinaos noong Abril 30, 2021, sa Camp BGen Vicente Lim, in Calamba City, Laguna.

Ang SIK-HAY Project ay magkatuwang na programa ng dalawang (2) ahensiya kung saan ang mga rebel returnees ay bibigyan ng kakayahan na matutong magsaka at pagkakalooban sila ng lupaing pagtatamnan at mga kagamitan sa pagsasaka.

Ang mga lupaing kanilang matatanggap ay ang mga nakatiwangwang na lupain ng pamahalaan mula sa tatlong (3) project sites ng mga lalawigan ng Laguna Quezon at Rizal. Bawat projects sites ay may nakalaan na 15 ektarya kung saan 30 rebel returnees ang mga mag-aari dito at kung saan gagamitin nila ang kanilang mga bagong natutunan sa pagsasaka at kaalaman sa teknolohiya.

Ayon kay DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones ang proyektong ito ay isa sa pinakamagandang stratehiya upang makamtan ang kapayapaan sa bansa.

“Ang mga taong sumapi sa rebelyon ay ang mga nakaranas ng kawalan ng katarungan, sila ay hindi tinatrato ng maayos ng komunidad, at mga naisantabi. Nais nating manumbalik ang kanilang tiwala sa pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng maayos na pamumuhay,” ani Brother John.

Idinagdag rin ng Kalihim na buo ang suporta ng ahensiya upang maibalik ang mga rebelde sa buhay na may sinusunod na batas.

Ayon naman kay PNP Calabarzon Regional Director PBGen Felipe Natividad, naniniwala siya na ang gawaing ito ay nasa tamang daan upang maging matagumpay bilang katuwang ang DAR sa pagpapatupad.

“Magtutulungan tayo upang gabayan sila patungo sa tamang direksyon,” dagdag pa niya.