TACLOBAN CITY – Baybay City has been officially declared under stable internal peace and security condition (SIPSC), joining a growing list of local government units in Eastern Visayas that have achieved insurgency-free status.
Mayor Jose Carlos Cari hailed this achievement as a significant milestone for the city, paving the way for greater development and improving the lives of its residents.
“Being insurgency-free is a major step toward a more progressive city. This status will attract more investments, improve security, and enhance public services for our people,” he said.
Cari also expressed gratitude to the stakeholders who contributed to this success and vowed to sustain the city’s peace and security beyond his administration.
Brigadier General Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, acknowledged the collective effort that led to Baybay’s declaration as insurgency-free.
“The declaration of Baybay as under SIPSC signifies our hard-earned victory in securing peace. Some of our comrades have even paid the ultimate sacrifice to achieve this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Edgar Gabia, commander of the 14th Infantry Battalion, and PCol. Dionisio Apas Jr., director of the Leyte Police Provincial Office, also attended the event as signatories of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) formalizing the city’s status.
After the formal declaration, officials and attendees signed a pledge of commitment and released white doves, symbolizing peace and a new beginning for Baybay City.
Baybay City now joins the ranks of other insurgency-free areas in Leyte, including Palompon; Matag-ob; Merida; Isabel; Hilongos; and Burauen.
The SIPSC declaration reaffirms the ongoing efforts of the government, military, and local communities in ensuring long-term peace and security across the province.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
