On Friday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. proclaimed Misamis Occidental an “Insurgency-Free Province,” noting the conclusion of communist rebellion and terrorist activities in the area.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate a historic occasion, one that also took time in the making, the declaration of Misamis Occidental as an Insurgency-Free Province,” Marcos said in his speech at the Tangub City Global College (TCGC) in Tangub City.
Marcos further stated that more than 60 barangays in Misamis Occidental that were once affected by Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) are now free from their influence.
“After years of consistent and resolute security, peace, and community-building, we have succeeded in our campaign to end the decades of conflict in the sixty barangays in your province that were once in the clutches of insurgent movements,” said Marcos.
“We have successfully dismantled the key leadership of the former insurgents operating in Misamis Occidental, which have now led to their reintegration into society,” he added.
Furthermore, Marcos noted that the increasing number of individuals opting for peaceful paths and the decline of armed rebellion have contributed to the province’s state of peace.
In addition, he commended the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for their community development and reintegration initiatives aimed at individuals returning to lawful society.
In September, the Marcos administration reportedly finished 46 projects, including 44 farm-to-market roads (FMRs) and two other infrastructure initiatives focused on the construction and development of roads and bridges in the province.
Marcos then revealed that 17 new initiatives are in development, with nine concentrating on the enhancement of water supply systems and eight on advancing health stations, rural electrification, and school renovations.
