Posted to Kalinaw News (Feb 7, 2022): Tulunan Peace Zone transformed into Peace and Development Zone
MAKILALA, COTABATO – The former Peace Zone in Tulunan, North Cotabato was transformed into Peace and Development Zone after its former ordinance was amended, approved, and rolled during a people’s assembly at Sitio New Alimodian, Brgy Banayal, Tulunan, North Cotabato on February 6, 2022.
The people’s assembly was attended to by Governor Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato, Congressman Jose Tejada, Mayor Reuel Limbungan, PNP Provincial Director Police Colonel Harold Ramos and Battalion Commander of 39IB, Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Balagtey.
The amendment changes the tenor and viewpoint of the Peace Zone from its former context of conflict into the context of development, adopting the concept of the Whole of Nation (WoN) approach and anchored on Executive Order 70 or the strategy of Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The newly amended Peace Zone Ordinance now referred to as the territorial enclaves and safe haven created to establish a community that is peaceful, conflict resilient and ready for further development.
This came after communities have lobbied for its amendment during the conduct of community support program and community engagement made by the Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict of the Municipality of Tulunan and Province of North Cotabato and assistance from Balai Mindanao and Asia Foundation.
The Peace Zone concept originated during the late 1980s when armed conflict caused by Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) was rampant and communities needed to be secured from the chaos. Eventually, the Peace Zone was proposed and was established thereafter. However, this was exploited by the CTGs to their advantage and utilized the Peace Zones as their safe haven and Guerilla Base.
Mayor Reuel P Limbungan of Tulunan said in an interview that, “Peace Zones must be a stronghold today. With the government’s initiative of neutralizing the rebels, and we are observing that rebel forces have been weakened, it is just timely and relevant to revisit and re-strengthen the peace zone ordinance for us to fully apply what these zones and their ordinances are capable of. This will be the start of a real peace and order development.”
LTC Ezra Balagtey, 39th Infantry Battalion Commander, meanwhile express appreciation to the Task Force ELCAC, Balai Mindanao, Asia Foundation and the communities in the peace zone on this initiative.
We are thankful to the stakeholders of peace for this newly amended ordinance which change the setting of the peace zone from a conflict-based to more peace and development which allows the government and the whole of the nation to address the issues that caused conflict in the past.” Balagtey said
“The military forces especially our battalion accept the challenge for this new beginning. We will be a support system that always assists and guide whenever our services are needed,” he added.
[Kalinaw News is the official online source of information on the pursuit for peace in the Philippines This website is a property of the Civil-Military Operations Regiment, Philippine Army located at Lawton Avenue, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City Contact us: kalinawnews@cmoregiment.com]
https://www.kalinawnews.com/tulunan-peace-zone-transformed-into-peace-and-development-zone/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.