Palawan declared insurgency-free

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday declared Palawan province as insurgency-free, citing the successful implementation of the whole-of-nation approach to end the local communist armed conflict (ELCAC).

"I cannot think of a better way to open the celebration, the commemoration of the National Peace Consciousness Month than to also at the same time be able to announce and to declare Palawan Island as insurgency-free," Marcos said during the opening ceremony of the National Peace Consciousness Month in Puerto Princesa City.

Marcos recognized the collaborative and inclusive efforts of the regional and provincial task force ELCAC, the Provincial Peace and Order Council, its partner agencies, and the people of the province for the achievement of this milestone.

"The milestone that we celebrate today epitomizes the commitment that you have put to end the decades-long insurgency in the area through the provision of national reintegration programs for former rebels and promotion of the island's peace and security," Marcos said.

Marcos also highlighted the importance of the whole-of-nation approach in achieving peace, saying that it is not just the military and the police that need to be involved, but also all government agencies and the local community.

"When we achieve that, fulfilling the promise, we will find it easier to move towards peace," he said.

The president also assured the people of Palawan that the government will continue to work towards achieving peace in the entire country.

"Insurgency-free is within reach," he said. "MIMAROPA is on its way to becoming insurgency-free, and soon we can say that the remaining areas are being worked on."

In a media interview, Marcos said Palawan is now a "very large part" of his plans to transform the economy now that the province is insurgency-free.

Marcos said that the local government officials of Palawan have many plans that they have wanted to implement for a long time but were unable to do so because of the insurgency.

"But now that we are able to declare Palawan insurgency-free, they can finally implement those plans," Marcos said.

Marcos also said that he is committed to sustaining the peace in Palawan, as it is a major tourist destination.

"We know that Palawan is very tourist-sensitive," Marcos said. "We know that they will mention what happened in Jolo, and people will be hesitant to visit here because they will say that the Philippines is in turmoil. Let's go somewhere else instead."

Marcos said that the government is working to attract investments in Palawan and that tourism will play a significant role in this.

"Tourism plays a very, very large part in that," Marcos said. "And Palawan plays a very, very large part in Philippine tourism."