TACLOBAN CITY – Palompon, Leyte Mayor Ramon Oñate expressed optimism that investors will increase in their municipality following the declaration of Stable Internal Peace and Security on Friday, May 17.
"There is no prosperity if there is no peace," the mayor said during the signing of a memorandum of agreement, emphasizing that the declaration would inform the people, government agencies, and investors that Palompon is a very peaceful municipality.
Palompon is the first municipality in Leyte to be declared under SIPS status.
The Army said Palompon has been free from the influence of the New People's Army since 2016.
In 2019, the NPA Front Committee 42, with over 52 active guerrilla fighters, was dismantled by the Army.
VESTUIR (Photo via Marie Marticio)
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, underscored the importance of the declaration in showing the community's commitment to maintaining peace and order.
"There are only five members left of the Platoon 2 of the Island Committee Levox. This declaration sends a strong message to them that Palompon is peaceful and we are united against them. We will still be here and we will help you keep the peace in Leyte and prevent the NPA from coming back," he noted.
Vestuir said that other municipalities will follow with their declaration, including Matag-ob, a neighboring municipality.
Palompon, the home to the famous Kalanggaman Island, the top tourism destination in Leyte is a second-class municipality in the fourt district, comprised of 50 barangays.