Tiaong in Quezon Province has been declared an insurgency-free municipality.
Local government officials also recently signed a memorandum of understanding declaring the town’s Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status.
Tiaong Mayor Vincent Arjay Mea led the MOU signing, together with Councilor Eula Lopez who represents Quezon Governor Dr. Helen Tan; Vice Mayor Dick Umali; 201st IB commander Brig. Gen. Erwin Alea; Quezon police director Col. Ledon Monte, 59th IB commander Lt. Col. Ernesto Teneza; and 1st Quezon PMFC commander Major Rodelio Calawit.
The signing of the SIPS MOU highlighted the joint efforts of the military, police, local government units (LGUs), and national government agencies, including civic groups, to finally declare Tiaong an “insurgency-free” municipality.
In his message, Mea expressed his gratitude to all concerned sectors, especially the military and the police, for working to make his country insurgency-free. Roy Tomandao
According to the mayor between Laguna and Quezon, Tiaong is the gateway of Quezon province which is one of the leading coconut producers of the province. However, Tiaong trails behind when it comes to industrial parks.
Mea said that Tiaong should be among the industrialized towns in the Calabarzon region (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon), but it was hindered by the “stigma” that Quezon is considered a “nest of rebels.”
In the SIPS declaration, Mea is also “optimistic” that investors will flock to his town and that the economy will grow even more providing jobs to residents and improving local tourism.