Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte – The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity (OPAPRU), through the Task Force for Decommissioned Combatants and their Communities (TFDCC), in partnership with the Mindanao State University (MSU) System, successfully distributed educational assistance worth P17.4 million to 381 student grantees on February 8.

The disbursement of the educational support covered two academic years, 2024-2025 and 2022-2023.

For the 2024-2025 school year, 256 students each received P25,000 while 78 each got P50,000 for the two semesters. For 2022-2023, a total of 142 students each received P50,000. Of these, 95 are also beneficiaries of the current school year, while 47 are not. Thus, in terms of actual number of students, 381 students were served.

Interestingly, of the 381 students, 31 are grantees of both school years, but since they have not yet received their assistance for last semester, each got their educational assistance for two school years amounting to P100,000.

This initiative is part of the Educational Assistance Program (EAP), a flagship socioeconomic program, which is part of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), the government’s peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The program provides up to ₱200,000 per qualified student over four years, covering tuition, school fees, and other educational expenses. The assistance is provided to decommissioned MILF combatants or their next of kin.

The EAP is a crucial element of the government’s broader efforts to support former combatants and their communities in transitioning to civilian life. It aligns with the socioeconomic development aspect of the Normalization Program under CAB, which seeks to provide long-term opportunities for education, livelihood, and community development.

Since its inception in 2022, the program has been instrumental in supporting the higher education of decommissioned combatants and their families, helping them gain access to quality education by addressing their limited financial capacity.

The 381 student-recipients are part of the 2,500 beneficiaries for the three school years from 2023-2025. The MSU System will continue disbursements in Region XI next week, followed by Region XII later this month.

Expanding coverage in the regions

Since the program was launched in September last year, MSU has already distributed financial aid to student beneficiaries in Central, Southern, and Western Mindanao.

It seeks to help students across BARMM, as well as those from Regions 9, 10, 11, and 12.

The Educational Assistance Program is part of a broader range of socioeconomic interventions designed to support decommissioned combatants, their families, and their communities.

These interventions include a transitional cash assistance of ₱100,000 per combatant to facilitate their integration into civilian life.

Additional capacity development programs, such as values transformation training, Alternative Learning System (ALS), and Technical-Vocational Education Training (TVET), are also being implemented.

To provide the decommissioned combatants with sustainable sources of income, livelihood and employment assistance programs, including the Sustainable Livelihood Program and short-term employment opportunities, have been rolled out.

Infrastructure projects, such as housing assistance and other community-based interventions, also form part of the government’s commitment to their long-term development.

The government has invested ₱3.5 billion in socioeconomic programs under the Normalization Program since 2015.

Of this amount, ₱2.6 billion has been allocated for transitional cash assistance to support decommissioned combatants as they transition into peaceful and productive civilian life.

Selection Process

– The selection of beneficiaries follows a multi-step validation process to ensure transparency and eligibility. These steps include the following:

– Call for Applications: The TFDCC announces the application period through the MILF’s focal persons.

– Preliminary Review: TFDCC reviews the applications to confirm the eligibility of the beneficiaries based on the current status of decommissioning of the MILF member, as well as the current enrollment status of the student.

– Vetting by Joint TFDCC: The joint task force further validates the list of qualified applicants.
Submission to MSU: The vetted list is forwarded to MSU System for final verification and assessment.

– Final Approval and Disbursement: Approved applicants are notified of their grant release schedule.

Investing in peace through education and socioeconomic support

The OPAPRU recognizes that investing in peace interventions is vital to uplifting the socioeconomic conditions of MILF decommissioned combatants, their families, and their communities. These efforts are not just for the short term but are intended to ensure their future.

The national government acknowledges that education is a fundamental pillar of the country’s peace, reconciliation, and unity agenda. As such, it must be accessible to all deserving students.

Presidential Peace Adviser Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., emphasized that education is a cornerstone of the nation’s peace and security agenda and is essential in breaking the cycle of violence and armed conflict in Mindanao.

“For this school year [2024-2025] alone], the national government has allocated funds to support the college education of more than 1,000 students from various colleges and universities in Mindanao. For the next school year, we are working to double the number of our beneficiaries,” Galvez stated.

He encouraged the students to seize this opportunity to improve their lives and contribute to peace and development in their communities.

“At kapag nakapagtapos na kayo ng inyong pag-aaral, nawa’y suportahan ninyo ang inyong mga komunidad at ang pamahalaan sa pagsusulong ng tunay at pangmatagalang kaunlaran at kapayapaan sa Bangsamoro. Sa inyong mga kamay nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng Bangsamoro,” he added.

How to apply for educational assistance

Eligible applicants to the EAP financial assistance include decommissioned MILF combatants, their declared dependents, or, in special cases, other family members who can provide proof of relationship with the combatants

Applications are processed through the TFDCC office in Mintex Compound, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. The selection follows a strict validation process conducted by OPAPRU, TFDCC, MILF, and MSU to ensure transparency and fairness.

Beneficiaries shall receive their financial assistance through Land Bank of the Philippines checks, which can be encashed or deposited directly into their accounts.###