TACLOBAN CITY – The municipality of Matag-ob in Leyte was declared under a Stable Internal Peace and Security status on Friday, May 17.
Mayor Bernandino Tacoy was elated over the achievement.

THE town of Matag-ob in Leyte province achieved a SIPS status on Friday, May 17.
Tacoy said the milestone will spur more economic and tourism activities in the town comprised of 21 barangays.
The Army said that of the 21 barangays, San Vicente was the only one with reported New People's Army sightings. It was declared insurgency-free on November 10, 2022.
The Sangguniang Bayan passed Resolution 24-107 on May 6 supporting the declaration of SIPS condition in the municipality.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, stressed that although there are no more NPAs in the area, there should still be a declaration to inform people from other places of their peace and order situation.
He also disclosed that only five local government units remain affected by insurgency.
Matag-ob is the second town in Leyte to be declared under SIPS condition with no reported communist activities.
READ: https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/17/town-in-leyte-declared-under-sips-status
SIPS condition means the municipality has been cleared and unaffected by insurgency and is relatively peaceful.