Catbalogan now insurgency-free, joins other Eastern Visayas cities

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — Catbalogan City has been declared to have a “Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition,” joining other cities in Eastern Visayas that have achieved the government’s peace and security milestone as authorities work to prevent the resurgence of communist insurgency.

The declaration was made on Wednesday during a ceremony at the city plaza, where the city government and security forces signed a memorandum of understanding and a pledge of commitment to sustain peace and security across the city’s 57 barangays.

Catbalogan joins Baybay City in Leyte, Maasin City in Southern Leyte and Calbayog City, also in Samar, which have likewise attained the declaration. Calbayog was the first city in the region declared as such in 2024.

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READ: 8 ex-NPA rebels surrender in Northern Samar

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The milestone is particularly significant for Catbalogan, which hosts the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, the military unit responsible for peace and security operations in eastern Visayas.

City Mayor Dexter Uy said the declaration strengthens the local government’s commitment to working with security forces and community partners to maintain peace and ensure that the gains achieved through joint efforts are sustained.

“We will continue to work together and unite to maintain peace here in our city. Let this declaration serve as the foundation of our commitments and the actions that still need to be undertaken,” Uy said during the ceremony.

Army Lt. Col. Marx Luther Rosario, commanding officer of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Battalion, said Catbalogan was the 19th of Samar’s 26 local government units to attain this status this year.

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Rosario said military monitoring indicated no recovery, influence or mobility of New People’s Army members in the areas covered by the declaration.

Under the agreement, the city government and security forces committed to continuing law enforcement efforts, community development programs and other initiatives to prevent the resurgence of communist insurgent influence.

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Development projects

In her message of support, Samar Gov. Sharee Ann Tan said the provincial government had been implementing development projects in some of the parts of the city including a sports complex, resettlement areas, farm-to-market roads and other infrastructure to stimulate economic activity and improve access to services, especially those living in remote villages of the city.

She assured the city government of continued provincial support for improving road connectivity to upland barangays and expanding livelihood opportunities, saying these efforts would help sustain the gains in peace and security. /cb