Matuguinao: This town was formally declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) on Monday, marking the culmination of years of government efforts to eradicate the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the area.
According to Philippines News Agency, a declaration ceremony held at the municipal gymnasium was attended by local officials led by Mayor Aran Boller, the Army's 8th Infantry Division commander Major General Peter Burgonio, and representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Matuguinao had long been considered one of Samar's insurgency hotspots, with communist rebel influence reaching nearly all of its 20 villages for decades. Since its creation as a municipality in 1965 and the rise of the NPA in the 1970s, two of its mayors have been assassinated by communist rebels. Several military personnel and barangay officials were also killed.
Local officials said the situation began to improve in 2019 when the local government declared NPA members persona non grata, intensifying its anti-insurgency campaign in partnership with the Philippine Army and PNP. In his speech, Boller described the declaration as the realization of a long-held aspiration for peace and development.
"It has been a long journey toward the total emancipation of Matuguinao from the influence of the CPP-NPA-NDF," he said, recalling the lives lost over the years, including soldiers, village officials, and civilians. He said the declaration signifies that the town is now ready to focus on sustained development and economic progress.
One major factor behind the transformation was improved accessibility. Once reachable only through a four- to six-hour motorboat ride, Matuguinao was connected by road to neighboring Gandara through a Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan-funded road project completed in 2019, reducing travel time to less than an hour. "By delivering services to all citizens equally, we have eliminated the grounds for complaints used by the NPA to justify their recruitment," Boller added.
The local government is currently assisting around 60 to 70 former rebels through reintegration and support programs, including livelihood assistance and planned housing units under the Saad nga Balay (promised housing) program. Burgonio commended the local government and residents for their cooperation, saying peace could not have been achieved without active community participation.
The SIPSC declaration is granted after a local government unit undergoes assessment and verification by the military and police and is found free from insurgent influence, presence, and activities for at least one year.
