CAVINTI, LAGUNA – Teresa, Rizal is now an insurgency-free municipality following the Ceremonial Signing of Memorandum of Understanding and redeclaration of the CPP-NPA-NDF as Persona Non Grata on June 9, 2023. Said municipality was conferred by an inter-agency body with Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status after successfully meeting the criteria established under the phases of normalization per the Revised Joint Implementing Rules and Regulations to Executive Order 546 Series of 2006, specifically the absence of recorded NPA violent activities for at least one year. Hon. Rodel Dele Cruz, the Municipal Mayor of Teresa, Rizal expressed his sincere gratitude to the different stakeholders and to the populace for their cooperation and shared responsibility for having a safe and insurgency free environment. Brig Gen Cerilo Balaoro Jr., Commander, 202nd Infantry Brigade, praised the LGU of Tereza for institutionalizing the Whole-of-Nation approach in achieving this milestone of declaring the municipality insurgency-free. “This declaration is an explicit manifestation of our sincere desire to achieve national unity and put an end to the local communist armed conflict that has impeded our goals for peace and development in our community,” he added. The Local Chief Executive is now taking the lead in preserving peace and security while pursuing development projects for the benefit of their citizens as a result of the designation of SIPS status.The initiatialso included the signing of a Pledge of Commitment by all parties involved, especially Teresa’s upland barangay chairmen and local government unit representatives at the municipal level. It can be recalled that on May 8 and 29, 2023, respectively, the municipalities of Baras and Tanay were also declared as SIPS areas. These events are manifestations that peace and security can be achieved when there is shared responsibility among stakeholders in the community, and engagements are under way to replicate these multi-sectoral and inter-agency partnerships in other local government units in the province of Rizal. (ROSELLE AQUINO)