Davao City marked its fourth year of being insurgency-free on March 24, underscoring the success of Peace 911 and its partners in promoting sustainable, lasting peace in former conflict areas.
Since 2021, Peace 911 has assisted a total of 83 friends rescued (FRs), guiding them towards a more peaceful and productive path.
”Our restorative justice work includes amnesty. Of those who applied, 85 have undergone processing [with] 69 cases dismissed, 13 are ongoing under Kalinaw Village, and 1 under BJMP,” Atty. Jonah Margarette Presto, Acting Head of Peace 911, said during Tuesday’s event.
A total of 1,400 individuals from the community were also catered to through medical missions, while 5,000 individuals availed themselves of government services delivered through peace caravans.
Presto added that out of the FRs that the Peace 911 assisted, 14 have graduated under the Alternative Learning System while still in prison—highlighting education as one of the key pillars of the city’s peace-building efforts.
A total of 20,000 school kits were also distributed to children in identified schools located in the city’s geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) to further support their education and ensure that they are equipped for learning and success.
Peace 911 also partnered with academic institutions, including the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), which brought higher education closer to the community through the USEP-Malabog Extension Campus (USEP-MEC).
“Through this collaboration, we are proud to see 100 students from our communities set to graduate from USEP-MEC, marking a new generation of empowered leaders and professionals,” Presto said.
As part of its mandate, Peace 911 also assisted communities with land conflict issues, helping promote harmony and stability in areas that once faced tension.
To also support the livelihoods in the community and strengthen its relations with Indigenous Peoples (IPs), Peace 911 conducted a series of livelihood training sessions, along with the provision of sewing machines, to help empower livelihood opportunities. Abaca farmers were also provided assistance, including the distribution of 32,855 abaca plantlets, the hiring of 15 Abaca guards, the establishment of five on-site nurseries, and the introduction of innovative farming techniques to help increase and improve their production.
Significant infrastructure projects such as the academic building for the USEP-MEC and the Bahayahay Center for IP women were also established in Paquibato to promote education rooted in their culture and heritage.
Peace 911 has taken the lead in providing services to remote locations, ensuring accessibility, and creating opportunities over the years. Presto emphasized the city’s dedication to inclusivity and public service that cuts beyond barriers and difficulties as it commemorates its fourth year without an insurgency.
“However, we must acknowledge that the process has not always been easy. We have encountered problems, resistance, and challenges along the way. But what matters most is that we did not stop. We chose to move forward despite small and big inconveniences because we are driven by a shared vision—a vision of a peaceful, resilient, developed, and inclusive Davao City,” she said.
“As we celebrate this milestone, let us remember that the work does not end here. Peace is a shared responsibility. It calls on each of us to remain vigilant, united, and committed to building communities that are not only safe, but thriving,” Presto added. CIO
Written by: J. Villaluz
Edited by: A. Nawal
Photo by: J. Faelnar
