Ex-rebels’ project leads “Galing Pook” awardees

In the province of Lanao del Norte, the kauswagan municipality that has long suffered from death and destruction due to the armed clashes between Blackshirts known as Maranao rebels and Ilagas known as the Christian forces is transforming into a organic farming community.

The “Arms to Farms” program that was implemented by the said municipality, the former rebel fighters brought into fold to participate the socioeconomic activities that is mainly organic farming, in the province of Kauswagan, wherein the poverty incidence was pegged at a record high about 79 percent in 2009.


The nine commanders of MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) and 100 of their men laid down their arms and embraced new roles as a farmer and entrepreneurs, enticed by its firm commitment of local government to involve in the entire community in identifying and implementing the projects relevant to the needs of communities of the potential rebel returnees.

Within a span of two years from the said change in local the leadership in 2010 and with thorough and constant involvement of community in the program identification and implementation, former rebels able to set aside their distrust and skepticism and instead became busy with planting crops, raising their livestock and managing fishponds with the help of the initial capital assistance provided by LGU under a cost-recovery plan.

The said increase in number of farmers in the province of Kauswagan helped reduce town’s poverty incidence from 79 percent in 2009 to 47.5 percent in 2013.


Finally the peace returned to Kauswagan, which is now visited often by the officials from other cities and municipalities who want to know more about how to effectively bridge the gap between Christians and Muslims and to promote peace and development.

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