Legazpi is now under the government’s Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status, marking a milestone in the city’s efforts to sustain peace and security while opening opportunities for investments and community development.
The recognition was made in a ceremony on Monday at the Legazpi City Convention Center, attended by Mayor Hisham Ismail, representatives of the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, national government agencies, barangay officials and other stakeholders.
In an interview, Brig. Gen. Ariel Reyes, acting commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID), attributed the achievement to the implementation of the whole-of-nation and whole-of-government approaches, which involve local government units, security forces, national government agencies, civil society organizations and other stakeholders in addressing insurgency.
Reyes said the collaborative approach made peace and development initiatives more effective and sustainable, compared with previous efforts that primarily relied on the security sector.
He said the SIPS status would provide residents with better opportunities to pursue education and livelihood, while encouraging local and foreign investors to establish businesses in the city.
“An area declared insurgency-free is actually a symbol that our businesspeople are waiting for to ensure that when they enter into a business in a particular place, they will no longer encounter problems concerning security,” Reyes said.
He expressed confidence that sustained implementation of collective peace and development programs would help strengthen security conditions across the region.
Meanwhile, Ismail said the declaration would help attract investors and encourage families to establish homes in the city’s southern barangays, which he described as insurgency-free and safe for residential development.
“We want to prove to everyone who wants to invest in Legazpi that the city is already insurgency-free and that they have nothing to fear,” Ismail said.
The mayor also announced plans to strengthen security and emergency response services in the area through the installation of a 40-foot integrated container facility, with one section intended to house a Bureau of Fire Protection station and the other a police station.
The facility is expected to be established within the coming months to improve the delivery of security and emergency services in the southern barangays, where the existing police and fire stations are located.
Ismail said the local government would continue working with national government agencies and community partners to maintain the city’s peace and security gains.
In his message, he emphasized that peace should go beyond the absence of armed conflict and ensure that residents can live safely, businesses can operate with confidence and communities can pursue opportunities without fear.
Col. Wilson Santos VI of Police Regional Office 5 underscored President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push for peaceful and progressive development in every barangay, particularly those previously affected by insurgency.
He said the government is monitoring infrastructure projects, especially road construction, to improve access to these communities and facilitate the delivery of basic services.
He added that the implementation of the government’s Barangay Development Program had enabled police personnel and local government units to reach and visit communities that were previously difficult to access due to inadequate infrastructure.
“Now, with the government’s Barangay Development Program, it is easier to deliver services to barangays previously affected by insurgency,” Santos said. (PNA)
