Northern Mindanao: The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) in Northern Mindanao is working to make the region insurgency-free within a year, officials said Tuesday. During the 'Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas' forum, Col. Antonio Dulnuan, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade, stated that achieving this goal requires a 'whole-of-nation' approach, with public support to rebuild conflict-affected areas. "We are doing everything we can, in partnership with all stakeholders," Dulnuan said.

According to Philippines News Agency, the RTF-ELCAC's mandate focuses on encouraging communist rebels to surrender and providing them with opportunities for reintegration. One such initiative is the provision of affordable socialized housing through the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). DHSUD 10 (Northern Mindanao) Director Ariel Abragan mentioned that former rebels, referred to as 'friends rescued,' are eligible for housing programs under the National Housing Authority. "We can see that our whole-of-nation approach is effective in deterring the youth from joining armed activities," Abragan said.

Yvette Sunga, assistant director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 10, highlighted the RTF-ELCAC's collaboration with various agencies, creating a harmonized working environment that extends to barangay levels. The task force's efforts aim to address the root causes of insurgency and promote sustainable peace and development in the region.