Sustained tourism dev’t seen in areas cleared of insurgency, Army chief says

DAVAO DEL NORTE, 23 February (PIA) --- Sustaining tourism interest is the way to go for areas which have been cleared from influence of  the communist terrorist groups (CTGs).

 

Outgoing commander of the Philippine Army 10^th Inf “Agila” Division, Lt  General Ernesto C. Torres believes that Davao Region areas cleared from insurgency can be fully transformed into tourism areas, thus he has tagged successes in overrunning CTG lairs as “transformation from terrorism to tourism.”

 

Interviewed after the Change of Command Ceremony yesterday at Camp Manuel Yan based in the Municipality of Mawab, Davao de Oro he said “we would like to sustain that thru the whole of nation approach particularly  in the security sector to establish the integrated territorial defense system”.

 

He cited the importance of stakeholders involvement in establishing a territorial defense system over cleared and neutralized areas to guard the gains of peace and  development efforts, and the military operations that defeated the CTGs.

 

“Sa ngayon ay nararamdamn na po natin yong pagdagsa ng mga turista dito sa ating  lugar dahil nga po malaki ang nagiging improvement natin sa security. (We now have felt the influx of tourists in our areas due to great improvement in security.),” he said.

 

“Makikita na ang lugar kagaya ng Talaingod (Davao del Norte);  Paquibato (Davao City) na dati ay medyo alanganin ang mga tao na pumunta, na ngayon ay napakarami na pong mga turista na pumupunta (We are seeing places like Talaingod, Paquibato where previously people were hesitant to go, but now a number of tourists are going to),” he said.

 

He also took note of the Davao de Oro where a number of areas have attracted tourists due to endowed nature’s beauty, fair weather, and a host of hospitable community folks.

 

He anchored his faith that Davao Region can step up efforts of turning insurgency hotbed areas into tourism site following Bohol which he cited as a “template” of this type of transformation.

He revealed that he made a study submitted as a requirement to AFP Command and General Staff  Course on  transforming Bohol into tourist destination having overcome the insurgency problem.

“It worked in Bohol and I am very  certain that it will work also in Davao Region and the adjacent regions,” he said as he called on  unified efforts to realize the vision of establish tourism hubs in what used to be lairs of insurgents. 

In his report, General Torres who had been serving various Eastern Mindanao commands of the Philippine Army cited a drastic reduction of Guerilla Fronts (GFs) and Pulang Bagani Commands (PBCs) in the Agila Division area of responsibility (AOR).

 

From 17 GFs in year 2016-2017 and six PBCs, he left the 10^th Inf Division with three weakened GFs, two active GFs and one sub-regional guerilla units (SRGU).

 

“…and with  the outstanding brigade commanders, I am very confident  for you to comply with the marching order of our Commander-in-chief (President Rodrigo Duterte) to finish  insurgency in this part of our country before he steps down. I have my true confidence in you,” he said addressing the elements of the 10^th Infantry “Agila Division. (PIA XI/Jeanevive Duron Abangan)