The
Livelihood Enhancement and Peace, or LEAP Program is a U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID)
- supported program of the Philippine government designed to assist
former combatants of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) make
the transition from guerillas to commercial-level farmers and fishermen.
With USAID support and other program partners, it has, since it started
in July 1997 and through the current period, provided over 23,000
former MNLF combatants with technical assistance and training, agricultural
and aquaculture production inputs, and post harvest equipment and
support facilities.
Through
the period ending March 2005, the LEAP Program, with the support of
other program partners, will have assisted over 27,000 former combatants
throughout the conflict-affected areas in Mindanao. The current production
participants are now in various stages of production.
For the
period January 2002 through February 2004, over 475 pre- and post-harvest
equipment and facilities have been provided to MNLF communities. These
types of assistance are intended to support the production activities
of the participants to ensure that the harvested crop is of good quality
so as to command a better market price. The assistance focuses on
communities where agricultural development assistance, such as production
inputs, has previously been provided to the former combatants.
The program
continues to seek contributions from other Philippine government agencies,
local governments, other donors, private firms, and the beneficiaries
themselves for the implementation of LEAP activities. In order to
assist in bringing about greater trust between the Philippine government
and the former combatants, the LEAP Program, to the maximum extent
possible, involves personnel of Philippine government agencies such
as the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo),
its partner agency, and local government units (LGUs) in the delivery
of LEAP Program services.
