Slide 1

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PNP AND DAR.

On 30 th day of April 2021 in Camp BGen Vicente Lim, Brgy . Mayapa , Calamba City, the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, POLICE REGIONAL OFFICE-CALABARZON , represented Regional Director, PBGEN FELIPE R. NATIVIDAD (PNP PRO-CALABARZON) -and- The DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM CALABARZON REGION , a government agency with principal office address at 3 rd Floor, FAPSO Bldg., DAR Central Office, Elliptical Rd. Diliman , Quezon City, represented by then Regional Director, DIR. RENE E. COLOCAR, referred to as the “DAR-CALABARZON” entered into a Memorandum of Understanding..

The DAR and the PNP are committed to support and deliver expected contribution to the RTF-ELCAC Cluster Action Plans and work together to help in the restoration of secure, progressive and peaceful lives of communities in the CALABARZON Region..

In line with the objective of addressing the causes of insurgency and other armed conflict by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, the PARTIES have endeavored to establish the “SIKAP-BUHAY” or “SIKHAY” Project as a socio-economic development package to Former Rebels/Rebel Returnees and their families in CALABARZON in order to attain the government’s peace agenda. It is an undertaking to assist in the mainstreaming of Rebel Returnees in our society in their bid to change and lead a renewed life – pagsusumikap para sa panibagong buhay ..

I. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT.

The “SIKHAY” Project is a partnership endeavor of the PNP PRO CALABARZON and DAR-CALABARZON. Initially the parties shall develop the parcel of land in Kalayaan , Laguna bought by the PNP PRO-CALABARZON. This area will be jointly developed as a staging or preparatory site for rebel returnees. As a pilot area, a demo farm will be established as a platform for putting into practice learned farm technologies – applying and perfecting newly acquired skills through hands-on training. The Kalayaan Pilot Farm is to become a laboratory where farm innovations will be tested and adopted for replication to some forty five (45) hectares of Government-Owned Lands (GOL), fifteen (15) hectares each from the provinces of Laguna, Quezon I and Rizal..

The Parties shall work together in assisting the former rebels in their new found home. Herein, they will be trained further on communal farm management and be provided with needed planting materials and other agricultural inputs. They will be trained, organized into a cooperative or an association and be registered through a government registering body. As an organization, they will be linked to government agencies and/or private institutions providing extension services on organic farming, irrigation, integrated farming, pest management, marketing, etc..

The project offers a resilience program and stable disposition for former rebels as partners in peace and nation building. This project will further insulate them from re-infiltration activities from their former comrades and help address the root causes of insurgency and armed conflict in CALABARZON. This community of peace will be a testament of Government’s sincerity and continuity of its welfare programs for those who were beguiled by misplaced ideology and took arms to go against our duly constituted government. It will also inspire and encourage those who are still in the erroneous path of violence to have a change of heart and embrace a new life of peace for them and their families..

II. INTERPRETATION.

Existing laws, published Executive Orders, Implementing Rules and Regulations and other Agency Directives related to ELCAC shall be interpreted as to give meaning and effect to the intent and purpose of this Agreement;.