Calbayog City declared as manageable conflict affected and development ready

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 10): Calbayog City declared as manageable conflict affected and development ready

Calbayog City was officially declared as 'Manageable Conflict Affected and Development Ready" by the city government and the Armed Forces of the Philippines through the 801st Infantry (Bantay at Gabay) Brigade and the 803rd Infantry (Peacemaker) Brigade of the 8th Infantry (Stormtroopers) Division, Philippine Army on Wednesday.

Mayor Ronaldo Aquino said that the declaration will serve as a means toward the progress and continuing development of the city.

He added that declaring this city as manageable conflict affected and development ready is very significant to all Calbayognons since it is a way of informing the world of the real score and status of the peace and order situation of our city.

In his message, mayor Aquino said that Samar Island has been hounded by insurgency for many years and poverty has been widespread in the whole island.

He cited a 2009 report of the National Statistics Board wherein the province of Samar was ranked 17 among the poorest provinces in the country.

“This declaration is a very significant event to us Calbayognons as this is a way of informing the world of the real score and status of the peace and order situation of our city.” Aquino said. “It is a notice to businessmen and tourists that our city is conducive to investment and tourism.”

The peace and security situation in the city was categorized as ‘manageable’ based on the accomplished imperatives.

These include the cessation of insurgent groups to function as an organized movement in the city; the threat to stability, peace and order and development in the city was significantly reduced and relegated as mere criminal and law enforcement matters; the actual and potential support system of the insurgents in the city was significantly reduced and cut; the effort to infiltrate unaffected areas and sectoral organizations has been minimized; arouse, organize, mobilize (AOM) activities, ideology, political and organizational (IPO) works and violent activities of the insurgents has been preempted and thwarted; and the local community defense system in the city has been established.

Republic Act 6975, otherwise known as the “Department of the Interior and Local Government Act of 1990,” states that the local government officials as Chairmen of Peace and Order Councils shall oversee the implementation of public safety plans, to ensure public safety and effective maintenance of peace and order within their locality.

In line with the declaration, Calbayog City condemns all acts of violence and illegal activities such as extortions and killings of innocent civilians. The declaration of the city as manageable conflict affected and development ready reflects the collective aspiration and desire of the Calbayognons to have peaceful, developed and prosperous community.

The City Peace and Order Council (CPOC) commits to preserve and maintain the peace and order, recognizing these factors as the foundation of development, stability and security in the city, maintain solid and systematic approach of coordinating the whole of government efforts; and orchestrating the local citizens, public organizations (PO) non-government organizations (NGO) and other stakeholders towards participation in the promotion, preservation and maintenance of peace and order in the locality;

Meanwhile, 801st Brigade commanding general, Gen. Wilson Lleyva stressed that the declaration of Calbayog as manageable conflict affected area and development city is the result of the concerted effort of Calbayognons to attain peace and development of the city.

“You (Calbayognons) work for this declaration, and this is the result of your effort to have peaceful, orderly and developed community,” Lleyva said.

The declaration was presented and signed in the presence of barangay officials, representatives of different sectors, heads of different national and local agencies.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=661223