MANILA, Philippines — Davao Region must take “optimistic but cautious” steps after it was declared “insurgency-free” by its Regional Peace and Order Council, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said.
An end to the insurgency in the Davao provinces was formally declared at a program attended by the President and the Vice President, Sara Duterte, in Panacan, Davao City on Thursday.
“Moving forward, we take an optimistic but cautious step to mind that the goal of achieving a long, lasting peace and order in the region cannot end just with this declaration,” Marcos said in his speech.
He added, “We will need to sustain it with a whole-of-nation approach to peace and development to prevent terrorist and lawless elements from recruiting, regrouping and regaining power over our countrymen.”
Marcos raised caution over the possibility of the region going “back to square one,” which, he said, cannot be afforded.
“I call on the armed forces, government agencies, local government units, and communities to continue working together to seize the gains in the region and ensure that we will carry this momentum towards the future,” he added.
Ready for tourism and investments
Davao Region, previously a stronghold of the communist New People’s Army, also re-launched itself as a tourism and investment hotspot during the event.
“To celebrate this victory, I believe there is no better way to commemorate the eradication of insurgency in Davao than to declare the region as a tourism and investment-ready destination,” Marcos said.
The President noted that the region has always been an economic leader in Mindanao. However, security woes in the area were “holding progress back.”
“This declaration serves as a timely platform to boost Davao’s post-pandemic economic growth and leverage the region’s abundant resources and opportunities,” he pointed out.
“It is my hope that all the things you have achieved here in Davao can also be replicated across the country,” Marcos added.
The President said there was more than a 61 percent dip in the registered investments in the region, while tourist arrivals fell by at least 70 percent.
But Marcos expressed trust that with the declaration of the region as insurgency-free, along with the coordinated efforts of stakeholders, the trend can be reversed.
I think you already have begun to reverse the trend and usher in a new era of growth and opportunity for our people. I think we can say, with a greater level of confidence, that we have heard countless times that Mindanao is the land of promise. Now, let us begin to fulfill that promise,” he added.
Davao Region was declared insurgency-free by the RPOC last October 12, almost a month after five NPA rebels were killed in fierce clashes with the military at the boundary of the towns of Banaybanay and Lupon in Davao Oriental.
READ: 5 NPA rebels killed in Davao Oriental
Some 1,7949 NPA rebels had been “neutralized” by the 10th Infantry Division since 2016, said the military.
It said 107 insurgents were killed, 217 were captured, and 1,425 surrendered during that time.
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