Kalinaw News: Former red area turned tourist destination

 Posted to Kalinaw News (Nov 20, 2020): Former red area turned tourist destination



Mabini, Davao De Oro – In the last decades, we have lost some local communities to the clutches of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA). In the most remote communities in Davao de Oro, the CPP-NPA-NDF (CNN) has destroyed the lives of innumerable civilians, torn families apart, and cost the lives of brave men and women in the Armed Forces. We have been locking horns in an endless cycle of violence that has lasted more than one generation. But change is coming.

The armed forces, focusing on warfighting, has been engaging the enemy on the battlefield not knowing the key to winning the peace is winning the hearts and minds of our citizen, especially those who are most isolated and marginalized. It is a widely accepted truth that true peace cannot be achieved through warfare and violence.

Acknowledging the importance of development, PRRD promulgate the EO 70 which calls for a whole of nation approach in ending local communist armed conflict to attain sustainable peace and inclusive development.

Mabini of Davao de Oro has a lot of stories to tell as it has been the bailiwick of the CPP NPA NDF. Massive community support programs and relentless combat operations have been undertaken by the 71st Infantry Kaibigan Battalion and other units of the 10ID so as to clear this area from the insurgents influence. As peace and security stabilize, development comes in. Mabini now unleash its potential as one of the tourist destinations in Davao de Oro.

Dagpang Peak: The Batanes of Davao de Oro

The advent of the Community Support Programs (CSP) in various local communities, particularly in the operational area of 71st Infantry (KAIBIGAN) Battalion ushered effective peace and development programs initiated by the unit in collaboration with the local government units (LGUs) and private stakeholders which led to the development of former red areas now tuned tourist destinations such as of tourist destinations such as the Dagpang Peak and the Mabini Mountain Ridge located in Sitios Dagpang and Patawon both in the Municipality of Mabini, Davao de Oro.

Dagpang Peak is a newly developed tourist destination situated at Sitio Dagpang, Brgy. Pangibiran, Mabini, Davao de Oro. A spectacular view of sunrise and sunset over a splendid landscape of cogon land would be perfect for “selfies” and “groupies”. Some couples choose Dagpang Peak for the Pre-Nuptial shoots. Because of its open green space, the people feel free to stroll around and admire its natural beauty.

It was only discovered as a tourist spot after the 71st Infantry (KAIBIGAN) Battalion dismantled Underground Mass Organization (UGMO) in the area which provides a safe haven to the New People’s Army (NPA). Now, influx of local tourists visit dgapang for trekking, biking and just stroll around, enjoying the majestic view of the cogon land overlooking the sea. Former members of the milisya ng bayan (MB) and UGMOs now reap the outcome as economic activities in the area comes in.

Mountain Ridge and Bikers Camp

During the early 2000s, the Sitio Patawon of Brgy Cabuyoan was the mobility corridor of Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) where they were conducting their IPO works in the communities around and it served also as its staging area before conducting their tactical offensive against the government troops. Many years had passed that the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) took control of the situation in the area and also its adjacent barangays that enabled them to execute their plans against the government forces and its efforts to ruin the lives of the people in the community through their lies and black propaganda.

Through the persistent efforts of the 71st Infantry (KAIBIGAN) Battalion, Sitio Patawon is now being developed as peace and security stabilize. The deployment of the Community Support Program (CSP) teams in the area unearthed, reoriented and, redirected the Underground Mass Organization (UGMO). Patawon ridge is a quiet promenade, open green mountain which gives an enormous view overlooking the sea and the whole of Mabini. The creation of the terrace displays a striking architecture view of a bike’s rim shaded with lights with a static fascinating bicycle beside it. It is less crowded and peaceful with the cold breeze and sea of clouds in the early morning that will really struck the visiting tourists. The “Mabini Mountain Ridge and Bikers Camp” has been trending/viral in the social media as one of the promising tourist destinations in Mabini. The influx of local tourists has been recorded since its establishment. As a result, economic activities in the former NPA lair have been initiated benefitting the former members of the Under Ground Mass Organization (UGMO), who venture into small entrepreneurship.

“The project is one of the investments in peace and development in the operational area of the Kaibigan Battalion. Through the years, the Battalion has been a dependable partner in peace and development in Davao de Oro. The Government will spend more if insurgency problem lingers in the hinterlands. Conflict ruins the livelihood of the people, as well as government facilities. Let us focus our energy and resources in sustaining the peace through collaboration and a strong partnership with our stakeholders.” Lt. Col. Gonzales, said.

By eliminating insurgent resistance, the campaign successfully set the conditions necessary for achieving the desired end-state that if transforming these conflict areas to a conflict resilient communities. The willingness to provide support and the initiatives of the stakeholders in partnership with 71st Infantry (KAIBIGAN) Battalion is a manifestation that our government desires to end the local communist armed conflict. Unity can be a huge force in bringing changes to the community which will soon uplift the economic, political, and social conditions of the people. “PAG WALANG TERORISTA, MAY TURISTA!”.

https://www.kalinawnews.com/former-red-area-turned-tourist-destination/