Western Visayas seen to be declared ‘peaceful-ready’ before year ends

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 17): Western Visayas seen to be declared ‘peaceful-ready’ before year ends

Western Visayas is seen to be declared “peaceful and ready for further development” before the end of the year, according to the 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

The 3rd ID, headed by its commander Maj. Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, had last week joined the Police Regional Office-6 and the Province of Iloilo in declaring Iloilo as “peaceful and ready for further development.”

The signing of the declaration was witnessed by Lt. Gen. John Bonafos, deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces; and by Lt. Gen. Nicanor Vivar, commander of the AFP Central Command.

The provinces of Guimaras, Aklan, Antique and Capiz had earlier been declared as such by their respective provincial governments, with the Army and the Philippine National Police.

Guerrero said Negros Occidental is the remaining province in Western Visayas to be declared “peaceful and ready for further development.”

The Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade aims to declare the entire province of Negros Occidental as “peaceful and ready for further development” by June.

The fourth district Negros Occidental, composed of the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and the municipalities of Pulupandan, Valladolid, San Enrique, and Pontevedra had also been declared as such.

Others also declared are Cadiz City, Sagay City, Isabela, Calatrava, Toboso, and Hinigaran towns.

In Iloilo, Guerrero said the joint declaration is a manifestation that the collaborative efforts of the AFP, PNP and Iloilo provincial government have successfully prevented and denied the insurgents of their expansion and immensely contributed to keeping the peace and order in the province.

“Our gains in peace and security efforts must be sustained. We will work even harder together with all stakeholders for the sake of peace and progress,” he added.

Last year, the 3rd ID also declared Negros Oriental as “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready” after military units in the area successfully neutralized insurgent forces in the area.

The issuance of the declaration is a manifestation that the level of insurgency in the province has dwindled in the past years due to the continuous decrease of their manpower, firearms, affected barangays and activities.

The 3rd ID said the rebel threat has been reduced to a minimal level that it can no longer pose a serious threat to peace and order in the province.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=745100