CEBU CITY - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far disbursed PHP4.5 million worth of livelihood assistance package to 15 Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPA), a social welfare official said on Monday. Shalaine Marie Lucero, DSWD-7 regional director, said the amount was given to PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn Program (PAMANA)-identified conflict-affected or conflict-vulnerable areas in Central Visayas. Lucero said 50 insurgent returnees from these 15 SLPAs in villages affected or vulnerable to insurgencies as identified through Executive Order (EO) 70 received PHP4.5 million in aid. EO70 provides for the creation of a national task force tasked to find practical solutions to local communist armed conflict through a whole-of-nation approach and outlines the guidelines for releasing financial assistance to the returnees. Meanwhile, Lucero said the agency looks forward to rolling out more livelihood programs as part of the national government's peace and development e fforts in villages hit by local communist armed conflict. She said the agency recently sent project development officers to a three-day technical session to further capacitate them in handling special projects under EO 70 and PAMANA programs in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental. 'The technical session is aimed to equip field staff with the knowledge and needed skills with the end in view of the effective and efficient delivery of services to identified beneficiaries,' Lucero told the Philippine News Agency. Source: Philippines News Agency