Calbayog now 'development-ready' as insurgency weakens

MANILA, Philippines - Calbayog has been declared a development-ready and manageable conflict-affected area due to the weakening of communist rebels’ influence in the city, the military said Friday.

The declaration would transfer the lead role of maintaining internal security to the local government from the military.

“The declaration means that the basic issues that beset the people were already addressed by the city and concerned government agencies,” said Maj. Amado Gutierrez, spokesman of the Army’s 8th division.

“It also means that the NPA (New People’s Army) rebels’ interference with the economic activity in the city is already negligible and can be easily addressed by the PNP (Philippine National Police),” he added.

Local and security officials formally declared Calbayog City as manageable conflict-affected and development-ready during a ceremony held Wednesday.

The ceremony was attended by Calbayog Mayor Ronaldo Aquino, Rev. Niceas Abenoja of Calbayog City Diocese, Imelda Bonifacio, PAMANA regional manager of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Peace Process, and Brig. Gen. Wilson Leyva, chief of the Army’s 801st Infantry Brigade.

“We should recognize the effort of all the barangay chairmen of Calbayog City, the Peace and Order Council, the PNP, our soldiers and the people in the barangays for without them and their contribution, the much awaited declaration could not have been possible,” Leyva said in a statement. – Alexis Romero with Irene Bongcales