DAVAO CITY – Good governance will be the key in putting an end to the decades-long communist insurgency in the country, according to Vice President Inday Sara Duterte.

“…there is no ‘one size-fits all’ solution for this problem. I know one thing that could be an essential tool in ending the insurgency problem, and that of good governance,” Duterte said in her remarks during the opening of the Davao Peace Village held here at the SM Mall Davao on Monday, September 11.

“When communities have increased access to good education, economic opportunities, health care services and other government initiatives, terrorists will have lesser changes to access them,” she explained.

Dubbed “Peace Village: An Exhibit of Davao Region’s Milestones in Peace and Development,” the three-day peace fair is a collaborative effort of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), the City Government of Davao through its Peace 911 Program, and the provincial governments of Davao de Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental.

Duterte pointed out that the Philippine government has “made great strides in establishing peace in the Philippines,” saying the Moro conflict ended through the signing of two landmark peace agreements that addressed the root causes of violence.

She noted the government, through the National Task Force to Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), has been facilitating of local peace agreements in communities influenced by the communist-terrorist groups.

“I personally hope and pray that the Philippines will soon witness the end of the communist insurgency across the country. For the past 54 years, NPA terrorism has had a crippling effect on the growth and development of the nation,” Duterte said.

The vice-president lauded and thanked the OPAPRU for spearheading the conduct of the Peace Village and for partnering with the Davao City Government’s Peace 911 and provincial local government units in the Davao Region.

“Mga kababayan, patuloy po tayong maging matatag, para sa isang bansang makabata at mga batang makabansa. At ang lahat ng ating ginagawa ay para sa Diyos, sa bayan at sa pamilyang Pilipino,” Duterte said.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, whose message was read by Davao City Councilor Marissa Abella, cited the major gains achieved by the city and all LGUs in the Davao region in ending the armed rebellion.

“We have come a long way in our goal of achieving sustainable peace and development in the region. It has been a year since Davao Region has been declared insurgency-free and [has] continued to be so until the present,” the mayor said.

“Through the collaborative efforts of our local government units, private partners and all agencies of the government involved have sustained our campaign and today, we are proud to showcase those achievements,” he added.

Duterte said he is hopeful that the Peace Village will “further encourage all of us to continue working to achieving a sustainable and lasting peace, as well as educate more people on how they contribute to safe and peaceful communities.”

For his part, Davao de Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib underscored that the peacebuilding initiatives of stakeholders should not only aim to end situations of conflict, but also to promote justice, equality and human rights.

“Ang kapayapaan ay nagsilbing pundasyon kung saan natin itinataguyod ang lipunan na nagbibigay-daan upang ang bawat mamamayan ay magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na mabuhay ng may dangal,” Jubahib said.

According to the governor, the Peace Village is a testament of everyone’s desire to address the roots of violence and armed conflict through peaceful dialogue.

“Ito ay isang lugar ang mga tao mula sa iba’t-ibang sector ng ating komunidad ay maaring magtagpo, magbahagi ng kanilang mga karanasan at magsagawa ng konstruktibong diyalogo upang talakayin ang iba’t-ibang isyu at balakid sa pagkamit ng kapayapaan,” Jubahib said.

Meanwhile, Atty. Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña, OPAPRU director for Eastern Mindanao, cited the Peace Village “as a testament of our shared resolve, a beacon of hope that signifies our dedication to fostering an environment where peace, reconciliation and unity can flourish.”

“It’s more than just a physical location, it’s a dynamic hub, an epicenter of transformation, where we come together to transcend the challenges that have hindered our progress for too long,” Evangelista-Lapiña said.

“Today’s inauguration is not just an isolated event; it’s part of a larger narrative. It reminds us that peace is not just a lofty ideal; it’s a tangible reality that we can achieve through concerted efforts and collective action,” she added.

The Peace Village will run from September 11 to 13. It is among the activities lined up in Celebration of this year’s National Peace Consciousness Month Celebration with the theme “Kapayapaan: Responsibilidad ng Bawat Mamamayan.” ###