He said the provincial government is committed to looking after the welfare of its constituents by providing for their needs and ensuring that these can be used to their advantage on a long-term basis, especially with the Agila Haven now in place.
“Ang binibigay po ng ating gobernador ay hindi cash incentives [What our governor provides is not cash incentives]. Pag grupo po sila nagbibigay ng tractor (bao-bao) or whatever mga gamit pangsakahan [When they are in group, we give them a tractor or other farm implements]. For the wives, nagbibigay din po ang gobernadora ng rolling stores para makapagsimula sila [the governor provides them with rolling stores so they can start business],” the official added.
Torreña expressed the sincere support of the provincial government for the former rebels returning to the fold of the law.
"Kung ano po ang hinihingi ng ating returnees yung ating mga kapatid na nagbabalik loob yun po ang ibinibigay. Hindi po kami ang nagdidikta kung ano ang kanilang gusto but rather sila po ang dapat mag-identify kung ano po ang kanilang pangangailangan at iyon po ang pupundohan ng ating provincial government [What our returning brothers and sisters will ask for, those are the things that will be funded and provided. We are not the ones dictating what they want, but rather they should identify what their needs are, and that is what our provincial government will provide],” he conveyed.
Torreña explained that Agila Haven aimed to further strengthen as well as complement the program on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) that provides former rebels, including members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), working towards peace with job opportunities and livelihood support.
"Kung merong kapayapaan merong development na mangyayari, kung kaya ang pinaka focus talaga ng ating gobernadora ay kung paano natin makamit ang tunay na kapayapaan sa probinsya ng Maguindanao del Sur [If there's peace, development will follow. Our governor's main focus is how we can achieve real peace in Maguindanao del Sur," Torreña explained.
According to him, the effort extends to healing the wounds of the past with the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission “to address historical grievances, allowing communities to confront old problems, forgive, and move forward.”
At present, Maguindanao del Sur stands at a crucial point in its history, with its ongoing peace efforts still laying the groundwork for a more stable and harmonious future for the province.
The official noted that the province has made relevant strides to institutionalize partnership initiatives, forging collaborations with the national and local governments, communities, and various stakeholders over the years, shaping an environment where differences are valued and cooperation replaces conflicts.
