Baguio: The Department of the Interior and Local Government in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DILG-CAR) urged residents on Wednesday to help sustain the region's insurgency-free status by rejecting support for communist rebel groups. "We call on the residents to help us maintain the State of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SSIPS) by not supporting rebel groups or those linked to them in any way," DILG-CAR Regional Director Antonio Nuyda said.
According to Philippines News Agency, Nuyda emphasized that the Cordillera region has been declared under a State of Stable Internal Peace and Security, highlighting that insurgency and other serious internal security threats have been reduced to manageable levels or effectively dismantled. Public cooperation is deemed essential to preventing the return of insurgents and preserving peace in communities.
The provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, along with the cities of Baguio and Tabuk, have all been declared under SSIPS. Nuyda stated that the Cordillera Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) has adopted its 2025-2028 Operational Plan this year as the region's roadmap for sustaining peace and promoting development.
He further mentioned that the SSIPS declaration also reflects the region's readiness for development. The Cordillera economy experienced a growth of 4.4 percent in 2025, generating PHP394.96 billion worth of goods and services. The region also reported an 11.7-percent increase in locally sourced income, indicating stronger local revenue generation and improved fiscal management.
In terms of economic standing, the region ranked third in per capita gross domestic product among all regions, trailing only the National Capital Region and Northern Mindanao. "Where there is peace, there is genuine development," Nuyda remarked, adding that development initiatives are now being spearheaded by civilian agencies in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The PNP reported a 97-percent crime solution efficiency rate and a 99-percent crime clearance efficiency rate in the region in 2025, which Nuyda noted as a reflection of the Cordillera's continued peace and order achievements.
