Residents of Famy, Laguna are now free of the threat of Communist rebel groups.
In a ceremony held last Monday, August 12, as part of celebrations of the Kawayan Festival, town officials led by Mayor Lorenzo Rellosa and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) formally declared the town to be under Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status.
Officials also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen programs that will ensure peace and security in Famy, once considered a stronghold of the New People’s Army (NPA) in eastern Laguna.
The SIPS declaration aims to implement a "Whole of Nation" strategy to address the insurgency's underlying causes.
During his speech, Brigadier General Celiro Balaoro Jr. acknowledged the mayor and his staff for their invaluable work in organizing the event and formally establishing the town of Famy as an insurgency-free zone.
For his part, Mayor Rellosa expressed the local government’s hopes that the SIPS status will ensure more investment and business opportunities in the town.
Other municipalities in the province of Laguna that had earlier been declared free of Communist insurgency include the towns of Nagcarlan, Paete, Kalayaan, Santa Maria and Cavinti.
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