Sixty-eight former gunsmiths have graduated as forest rangers under Project Trident, a program initiated by the Danao City Government in the Province of Cebu.

A report of Philippine Information Agency 7 Cebu said that Project Trident is a program that focuses on transformation, livelihood, and environmental protection.

"The project aims to rehabilitate and reintegrate individuals once involved in firearms production by converting their expertise into lawful, meaningful, and environmentally-oriented work," the report said. 

PROJECT TRIDENT

Project Tridents seeks to address directly one of "Danao’s longstanding issues of illegal firearms manufacturing."

According to the Danao City Public Information Officer Michelle Mondigo, the program, symbolized by the three tines of a trident, represents the "collaborative effort between various sectors and stakeholders," the report added.

“This program is called Project Trident, which stands for Transformation, Reformation, and Integration of Danao’s Empowered New Trailblazers. The three prongs or points of the trident also symbolize the collaborative efforts with the government, law enforcement, and community empowerment,” Mondigo said.

The project's three-phase framework "starts with profiling, followed by validation, skills transformation through training and counseling, and livelihood integration."

“The persuasion part has always been the longest process, but these beneficiaries believed in this project, and now they have successfully finished the entire training program,”  Mondigo added.

The report further mentioned that the first batch of graduates now functions as forest rangers under the Danao City Government. 

The second batch of trainees, composed of 102 participants from Barangays Santican, Lawaan, Dungga, Mantija, Pili, Danasan, Cahumayan, and Masabâ, is set to begin their training and integration in the coming months. 

Furthermore, the Danao City Government aims to sustain the program in the long term to "help transform more gunmakers into environmental protectors." 

FIRING UP A NEW LIFE

Juanito Capuyan, 63, and a resident of Barngay Masabâ, Danao City, for example, was one of the graduates under the first batch of the said program. Since 1986, Capuyan’s main source of livelihood was making guns.

The PIA 7 Cebu report, moreover, mentioned that Capuyan has admitted his previous job was able to sustain his family’s needs for decades but there was always that fear of getting caught by the authorities.

“Nakahimo ko og pusil within five days ug ibaligya nako og tag P5,000. Okay ra ang kita kung ayuhon lang nimo og dala, di nimu e-waldas ang agi sa panginabuhi, igo-igo ra sad pangsustento sa pamilya,” Capuyan said.

Capuyan learned of Project Trident and applied to become a beneficiary.

 “Ni-apply ko ato ug nagpasalamat sad ko nga nadawat ko kay nakalingkawas na ko atong panarbaho nga pagka-gunmaker,” he said. 

Capuyan, along with the other beneficiaries, underwent five days of training at the Danao City Training Center.

He was hired immediately by the city government to work as a job-order employee and has been working as a forest ranger since July 2024, after graduating from the program and receiving his certificate.

“Importante kaayo ni para nako nga naa na mi panginabuhian nga wala na mi nagsalig atong paghimo ug armas nga dakponon man to sa una, nakalingkwas na mi nga gitagaan mi aning programaha nga nakatrabaho mi nga naa na mi income, pero bisan tuod gamay-gamay ra ni among income, at least naa na mi panginabuhian nga dili na mi mabalaka,” Capuyan added.

Moreover, the report emphasized that Capuyan earns P400 daily currently as a forest ranger. He helps guarding Mount Manghilao and the surrounding forests.

He said their team is tasked to ensure the "protection of local biodiversity and prevent illegal chopping down of trees in the forests of Danao City."

Capuyan urged other gunmakers in the city to avail of city programs  that offer opportunities for a "new life through a livelihood that aims to protect the environment."

“Gawas sa armas, daghan pa man kaayong pamaagi nga makapanginabuhi ta. Ang akong ikasulti nila nga modawat sila sa mga programa sa Danao City LGU [Local Government Unit] aron makalingkawas na ta anang klase nga trabaho ug mabuhi na ta pinaagi aning lain na sad nga klase sa panginabuhi, ug sa samang higayon makatampo usab ta sa pagprotektar sa atong kinaiyahan,” Capuyan further said. 

(Courtesy: RGC/Philippine Information Office 7 Cebu)