President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday hailed the gains made by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and local government units (LGUs) in the fight against insurgency.
Marcos made this remark in a speech as he led the declaration of Davao as insurgency-free as well as the relaunching of the region as a tourism and investment-ready destination.
“Your patriotism, sacrifice, and commitment to the ideals of peace have yielded successful and fruitful results. Now, the people in the region, especially those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, will reap the full benefits of the peace for which all of you have been responsible,” Marcos said in his speech.
The chief executive praised the efforts of uniformed personnel in ensuring protection and security through various civic and military operations.
Moving forward, the President said the country must take “optimistic yet cautious steps to mind” that the objective of achieving long-lasting peace and order in the region will not end with the declaration.
“We will need to sustain the whole-of-nation approach to peace and development to prevent terrorist and lawless elements from recruiting, regrouping, and regaining power over our countrymen. We cannot afford to go back to
square one,” Marcos pointed out.
Marcos also called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines, government agencies, LGUs, and communities to continue working together to “seize the gains in the region and ensure that we will carry this momentum towards
the future.”
The NTF-ELCAC is mandated to prioritize and streamline the delivery of basic services and social development assistance in conflict-affected areas and vulnerable communities.
It is also tasked to facilitate societal inclusivity and ensure active participation of all sectors of society in the pursuit of the country’s peace agenda.
