Occidental Mindoro: The Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) announced plans to ramp up socio-economic interventions in Occidental Mindoro, following the province's progress in freeing several towns from communist influence, now classified under "Stable Internal Peace and Security" (SIPS) status.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Occidental Mindoro Police Provincial Office reported that seven out of the province's 15 towns have been officially declared insurgency-free. This announcement was made during an orientation on localized peace engagements and transformation programs held on March 28. With this development, these municipalities are now set to receive government-led socio-economic intervention programs, including OPAPRU's "Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan" (PAMANA) Program.

PAMANA, launched in 2011, serves as the national government's flagship convergence program. It focuses on peace-building, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and development of Peace and Development Focus Areas across the country. OPAPRU Presidential Assistant on Local Conflict Transformation Wilben Mayor, who led the orientation, highlighted that clearing the towns of communist insurgents marks a significant milestone for the province.

Mayor stated that the province is now eligible for road projects that will boost progress and connectivity, emphasizing that the absence of insurgents removes the threat of sabotage. "We will provide projects in this province sa abot ng aming makakaya (as much as we can), now that we have seen an insurgency-free status in many municipalities. Again, under the Bagong Pilipinas, no one will be left behind. Sisiguraduhin natin na sa tamang lugar at tamang community mapupunta ang mga proyekto ng gobyerno katulad ng PAMANA (we will see to it that these development projects are put in the right places and communities just like what PAMANA is doing)," Mayor said.

Further, OPAPRU has previously stated that PAMANA has allocated over PHP90 million worth of road projects for the towns of Sablayan and Calintaan in Occidental Mindoro and PHP100 million for the municipality of Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro.