GUIUAN, EASTERN SAMAR, Philippines , October 10,
2012— The 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army based in Samar has
declared this town “insurgent-free and development-ready.”
Guiuan is the fifth town to be given such status in
Eastern Samar, after Balangkayan, Maydolong, Taft and Salcedo,
Major Gen. Gerardo Layug, 8th ID commander, said
“Communities in these areas had been frequented by the NPA, affecting the
government’s development efforts. But these towns have always exercised full
responsibility over its internal concerns as a local government unit.”
Guiuan has no significant record of
insurgency-related concern for the last 30 years and the Philippine Army has
never required the deployment of any territorial unit to this town, said Layug
during the declaration rites.
“With this declaration, it is hoped that tourism and
other economic activities in Guiuan will move forward,” Layug said, adding that
more towns in Eastern Samar may soon be declared insurgent-free as the military
have been pushing its operations in the northern part of the province where a
minimal number of rebels are operating.
“We are positive that the entire Eastern Samar would
eventually be free from insurgency and hopes to attract more investors and
businesses,” Layug said.
Mayor Annaliza Gonzales-Kwan thanked the military
for declaring her town free from insurgency. “As we embark on our tourism
program in Guiuan, peace and order is very important. The declaration of Guiuan
also as development-ready town will boost our tourism program. I am hoping all
our efforts for the development of this town will be realized.”
The mayor said she has been pushing for the full
operation of the Guiuan Airport, considering that the town, the gateway to the
southern part of the province, also boasts for its many eco-tourism
destinations and historical spots.
Eastern Samar, which has one city and 22 towns, is
under the 801st Infantry Brigade and 14th Infantry Battalion based in Jipapad
town, with several detachments stationed in remote villages.
“We
hope to declare all local government units in Eastern Samar insurgency-free by
the end of this year,” Layug said, citing an estimated 200 NPA members were
reportedly operating in the hinterlands of the tri-boundaries of the three
provinces in Samar island.
“The
threat posed by this rebel armed group may soon be downgraded and soon it will
be treated as a mere law and order problem. But we will stay until the civilian
police is ready to maintain peace and order without military participation,”
Layug said.
Southern
Leyte and Biliran provinces were declared insurgency-free in 2008. Last year,
Leyte was declared as “manageable conflict-affected and development-ready
province,” while Samar and Northern Samar provinces remain as rebel hotspots.
Layug was confident of declaring Eastern Visayas insurgency-free by 2016. Mel Caspe (FREEMAN)
