Catarman, the capital town of Northern Samar, has been officially placed under a Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) condition, making it “insurgency-free” after years of sustained peace-building efforts.
The declaration highlighted the town’s success in restoring and maintaining peace and order through the initiatives of the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC), headed by Mayor Dianne Rosales.
“This SIPS declaration is not the end but a new beginning — a pledge to preserve and give importance to the peace that we have achieved,” Rosales said during the declaration ceremony.
Lt. Col. Jayson Que, commander of the Philippine Army’s 43rd Infantry Battalion, said the declaration was the result of strong collaboration among the local government, security forces, and residents, adding that the challenge now is to sustain the peace that has been achieved.
The ceremony’s highlight was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Catarman local government, the Philippine Army, and the Philippine National Police, symbolizing their shared commitment to maintaining peace and security.
A symbolic release of white doves and the signing of the wall of commitment capped the event, reflecting the unity of local officials, barangay leaders, and private citizens in preserving stability and promoting development in the municipality.
Catarman is the most populous town in the Northern Samar with nearly 98,000 residents.
