October 21, 2024 – Davao City
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has successfully conducted “Kamustahan” re-engagement activities for 1,400 decommissioned combatants (DCs) of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) across the Davao Region. This initiative is part of the ongoing reintegration efforts aimed at supporting former combatants as they transition back into civilian life.
Organized by the office of Inclusive-Sustainable Peace and Special Concerns (ISPSC) Undersecretary Alan Tanjusay, the activities were carried out from October 7 to 11, involving house-to-house visits to assess the status of DCs in their communities and families. The primary goal of the initiative was to ensure that those who received a Php100,000 transitory cash assistance are provided with continued post-activity care and support.
“These re-engagement activities are conducted to ensure that decommissioned combatants are monitored, and their needs are assessed for further assistance,” said Undersecretary Tanjusay. The visits aimed to track the progress of the DCs and identify any additional support needed for their successful reintegration.
The “Kamustahan” activities involved 120 social workers and project development officers from DSWD Field Office 12-SOCCKSARGEN, covering the areas of Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Davao Occidental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao City. Through these engagements, the DSWD has reached out to a total of 12,000 decommissioned combatants as part of its ongoing peace-building initiatives.
These efforts are part of the broader framework established under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which outlines the normalization track for MILF combatants. Under this track, the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) oversees the decommissioning process, after which combatants are handed over to the DSWD for financial assistance and case management.
The decommissioning process has been conducted in three phases: June 2015, from August 2019 to July 2024, and from November 2021 to July 2024, resulting in the decommissioning of 26,145 combatants. The DSWD is now preparing for the fourth and final phase of decommissioning, which is expected to involve around 14,000 more MILF combatants.
“We can see that our peace-building initiatives are taking effect, as reflected by the success of our re-engagement activities in the Davao region. We are eager to continue supporting the DCs as we move forward with the final phase of decommissioning,” Undersecretary Tanjusay added.
The fourth and final phase of the government’s decommissioning initiative is a crucial part of the peace process in Mindanao, with the DSWD playing a key role in ensuring that decommissioned combatants receive the necessary assistance for their full reintegration into society.
