Once among the last towns in Southern Leyte affected by insurgency, Silago has reached a long-awaited peace milestone with its formal declaration as a Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPSC) area — a recognition that now opens wider doors for growth and investment.
The declaration was made official in a ceremony at the Silago Municipal Auditorium on Wednesday, October 29, led by the Philippine Army and the local government unit.
Mayor Lemuel Honor said the milestone affirms the town’s full recovery from insurgency and signals a new chapter for Silago.
He noted that even the upland communities — once affected by the New People’s Army (NPA) — are now stable and safe.
The event also gathered security forces, local leaders, and partner agencies who signed a memorandum of understanding to sustain the town’s peace gains and ongoing development efforts.
“It is now evident that there is no NPA presence even in our upland areas,” Honor said.
Of the province’s 22 local government units, only Sogod and Hinunangan remain in the process of securing their SIPSC declarations.
Meanwhile, Colonel Rico Amaro, acting commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, praised the declaration as a product of years of partnership between communities and government agencies.
He said Silago’s peace and order situation now allows public servants to reach far-flung areas “without fear,” a development he described as vital to sustaining trust and progress.
Amaro said Silago’s achievement brings Southern Leyte closer to becoming completely insurgency-free and resilient against any form of armed threat.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.