IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay, Mar. 31 (PIA) – The country’s armed forces believes that investors’ confidence accelerated in Zamboanga Peninsula due to the gains of EO70 implementation.

During the Usapang Kapayapan-PIA Kapihan special episode held recently, Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera, commanding officer of the 53rd Infantry “Matapat” Battalion, Philippine Army said that investors’ confidence rocketed as shown in the increased number of businesses wanting to get in or establish one in Zamboanga Del Sur, a result of the sincere implementation of the program to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) or EO 70.

“Nagkaroon po sila ng sense of security kaya tumaas po ang pagpasok ng mga investors. Kung tatanungin mo ang mga investors and businessman, ay wala na silang mga natatanggap na mga extortion coming from the CPP-NPA,” he said. 

He, however, noted that the gains did not happen overnight, but took three years of strong and serious implementation of the ELCAC Program to attain sustainable peace and development in the region.

During this three-year implementation of ELCAC, the Philippine Army played major role in dismantling a total of seven CPP-NPA groups in the entire Zamboanga Peninsula and left only two weakened guerrilla fronts.

He said, the impact of the dismantling resulted to the declaration of Zamboanga Sibugay as insurgency-free and ready for development in 2020, while Zamboanga del Sur was declared insurgency-free and ready for development in 2021.

“Zamboanga del Norte in the next few weeks, ay i-rerecomend namin for the declaration for the dismantle of guerrilla fronts,” Lt.Col. Herrrera announced.

“Pag nangyari po 'yan, ay magiging isang guerilla front na lang ang nag o-operate sa buong Western Mindanao, at posibleng ma declare ang buong Zamboanga Peninsula as insurgence-free,” he added.

LtCol Herrera is confident that the entire Zamboanga Peninsula Region will be declared insurgency-free and is hoping that the declaration will come in the coming months.

“We are very grateful for the convergence na ginawa natin, starting sa Regional Task Force (RTF-9) down to the Provincial Task Forces (PTF) -ELCAC ng Zamboanga Peninsula,” he said, noting that the joint efforts, the whole of nation approach has led to the gains of ELCAC that is now being enjoyed by the people of the region. (RVC/EDT/JPA/Zamboanga Sibugay)