THE City Government of Davao is celebrating its third year as an insurgency-free city, crediting the achievement of its Peace 911 program.
“The expulsion of insurgent groups from the city's territories has resulted in the realization of major infrastructure programs such as farm-to-market roads and government establishments in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), particularly in Paquibato,” the city government stated in a Facebook post on Friday, March 28, 2025.
Davao City was officially declared insurgent- and terrorist-free on March 24, 2022, through Resolution No. 0115-22, which was passed on July 19, 2022.
Peace 911, an initiative of the City Mayor’s Office, was established to address the needs of communities in remote areas of Davao City. Originally launched under then-Mayor and now Vice President Sara Duterte, the program initially focused on the Paquibato and Calinan districts.
Duterte previously stated that Paquibato had long been known as an “NPA (New People’s Army) country,” once led by the late Commander Ka Parago. She recalled that even when she became mayor in 2010, the situation remained unchanged. By 2016, she decided to take action by stepping back from peace talks and appointing two representatives from the local government — lawyer Elisa Lapeña from the City Legal Office and City Social Services and Development Office head Maria Luisa Bermudo.
Through consultations with residents, social and economic issues in the area were brought to light, allowing authorities to address these concerns. As a result, barangay officials and community members actively participated in the peace initiative.
In 2023, Peace 911 expanded citywide through Ordinance No. 0193-23, enacted on April 13, 2023, amending certain provisions of Ordinance No. 0891-22. This ordinance, titled “An Ordinance Creating the City Peace 911 sa Barangay,” formalized the program’s broader scope.
As of December 2024, Peace 911 has been assisting Former Rebels (FRs) in applying for the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) under Proclamation No. 404, Series of 2023. This proclamation grants amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) who committed crimes in pursuit of their political beliefs.
Beyond reintegration efforts, Peace 911 also aims to eliminate the stigma against former rebels and help them rebuild their lives within the community. RGP with reports from CIO