THE provincial government of Davao de Oro celebrated its third year as an insurgency-free province on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, vowing to continue sustaining peace through inclusive governance and development programs.
In a message delivered by Provincial Administrator Lewis Jake Caiman on behalf of outgoing Governor Dorothy “Dotdot” Gonzaga during the anniversary opening ceremony, the governor acknowledged the collective effort that made the milestone possible.
“Sa atong pag-celebrate sa ika 3rd year anniversary as an insurgency free province, dili dali ang pagsustinar apan tungod sa whole-of-nation approach, sa mga inputs gikan sa security sectors, national government agencies, and stakeholders, nagmalampuson kita nga napabati ang tinood nga kalinaw ug kalamboan sa probinsya,” the governor’s message stated.
(As we celebrate the third anniversary of our province being insurgency-free, it has not been easy to sustain this achievement. But through the whole-of-nation approach — guided by contributions from the security sector, national government agencies, and other stakeholders — we have successfully delivered genuine peace and progress to the province.)
Under Gonzaga’s leadership, the provincial government has expanded its peace-building initiatives through the Pagpalahutay Framework, a strategy focused on community-driven and sustainable development.
Among the key programs are Kamustahan sa Barangay and Tunol Serbisyo Para sa Katawhan, which bring direct government services to former conflict-affected communities. The province has also rolled out scholarship grants for families of former rebels, livelihood programs, organizational support for people’s organizations, and targeted interventions for various sectors.
Brigadier General Felix Ronnie Babac, commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade, also expressed gratitude to the provincial government for its continued support to peacebuilding through the Provincial Task Force on Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-Elcac) under Oplan Pagbabago.
“Together, let us defend this peace, build this province with unity, and continue to walk with the same people bound by hope, purpose, and love for Davao de Oro. Let us continue to serve for peace,” BGen. Babac said in his speech.
The celebration saw strong participation from key stakeholders, including the Kalinaw Davao de Oro team led by adviser Joy James Saguino, the Davao de Oro Police Provincial Office headed by PCol. Antonio Alberio, the Youth for Peace Movement Davao de Oro, and department heads from the provincial government office.
As part of the celebration, the province is set to host several activities, including a Former Rebels (FR) Summit, Taboan sa Kapitolyo (a marketplace and cultural exchange featuring people’s organizations), and other community-centered events aimed at promoting inclusive growth and sustained peace.
Davao de Oro was officially declared insurgency-free in June 2022 following the dismantling of the New People’s Army’s guerrilla fronts in the area. It was the first province in the Davao Region to receive the status. The rest of the region has since followed, with the entire Davao declared insurgency-free by the end of 2023, a milestone attributed to the collaborative efforts of local governments, security forces, and civil society partners. DEF