Camiguin is peaceful and ready for more development

CAMP BANCASI, Butuan City — Officials of the provincial government of Camiguin Island in Northern Mindanao on Tuesday inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the top officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) declaring the province as “peaceful and ready for further development”.

The historic signing was witnessed by other officials from the AFP and PNP, line agencies of the government, non-government organization, religious leaders and Camiguinons in a ceremony held at the Provincial Capitol, in Cami- guin Island.

Col. Jesse A. Alvarez, commanding officer of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade and Police Senior Supt. Wilfredo P. Cayat, Provincial Director of Camiguin Provincial Police Office (PPO) jointly recommended to the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) of Camiguin Island that the province be declared peaceful and ready for further development.

Just like the situation in the province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) in Northeastern Mindanao ( Caraga region), Camiguin was considered insurgencyfree based on the following parameters: there has been no influence of the CPP-NPA; no record of terrorist and NPA- initiated violent incidents; criminal activities are manageable by the PNP; and the province has noted positive indicators of improved delivery of social services in its rural areas, such as health services and wider reach of justice, as articulated before the PPOC.

Maj. General Oscar T. Lactao, commanding general of the AFP’s Northeastern and Northern Mindanao 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division (4th ID) said he sees a bright future for Camiguin province.

“The future is very bright for Camiguin,” he said. (Mike U. Crismundo)