President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. hailed the gains made by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and local government units (LGUs) in the fight against insurgency.
Marcos made this commendation in a speech as he led the declaration of Davao as insurgency-free as well as the relaunching of the region as a tourism and investment-ready destination on Thursday, October 27.
In his speech, the President commended the LGUs and the government's once-controversial anti-insurgency task force for their part in the country's peacekeeping efforts.
"Your patriotism, sacrifice, and commitment to the ideals of peace have yielded successful and fruitful results," he said.
"Now, the people in the region, especially those in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, will reap the full benefits of the peace for which all of you have been responsible," he added.
Marcos likewise praised the efforts of uniformed personnel in ensuring protection and security through various civic and military operations.
Moving forward, he said the country must take "optimistic yet cautious steps to mind" that the objective of achieving long-lasting peace and order in the region will not end with the declaration.
"We will need to sustain the whole-of-nation approach to peace and development to prevent terrorist and lawless elements from recruiting, regrouping, and regaining power over our countrymen. We cannot afford to go back to square one," he pointed out.
President Marcos called on the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), government agencies, LGUs, and communities to continue working together to "seize the gains in the region and ensure that we will carry this momentum towards the future."
The NTF-ELCAC is mandated to prioritize and streamline the delivery of essential services and social development assistance in conflict-affected areas and vulnerable communities.
It is also tasked to facilitate societal inclusivity and ensure active participation of all sectors of society in pursuing the country's peace agenda.
During the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the NTF-ELCAC became controversial for the supposed red-tagging of anti-government critics by officials of the task force.