The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cited Monday the significant gains achieved by its Internal Security Campaign Plan “Bantay-Laya,” leading to a steady decline of the strength and influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army’s (CPP/NPA), which resulted to an increase in GDP growth and improvement of business climate and tourism in the provinces.

According to Brig. Gen. Francisco Cruz, Jr., AFP – Civil Relations Service (CRS) commander, at the time when the campaign plan was launched in 2002, the CPP/NPA strength was placed at 9,260. By the end of the first quarter of 2010, this was reduced by 50 percent with only 4,642 remaining members.

Cruz also said the CPP/NPA used to affect 2,395 barangays in 2002, but this figure was reduced by 57 percent, numbering to only 1,017 by the end of the first quarter of this year, or a mere 2.4 percent of the 42,025 barangays nationwide.

The CRS commander further noted the campaign’s Civil Military Operations (CMO) component takes precedence over combat operations, focusing more on peace and development activities to help address the localities’ needs and eliminate the CPP/NPA’s recruitment.

“From Bantay-Laya emerged the AFP’s Peace and Development Teams (PDTs) that help fast-track development projects especially in far-flung communities as well as conduct localized dialogues. Members of the PDTs are trained in public affairs and community relations,” said Cruz.

“There are instances that the only government agency that can be felt in those remote barangays is the Armed Forces. So we take the opportunity in helping the government deliver basic services such as the conduct of free medical and dental missions and the adult literacy program. The soldiers peacefully reach out to the people and even to the rebels. This in turn elicited voluntary surrenders and open support from the people,” he added.

An upsurge of CPP/NPA surrenders was also recorded from 2005-2009, when a total of 5,417 communist insurgents returned to mainstream society. Of this figure, 21 were high-ranking CPP-NPAs while 2,119 were regular fighters and 3,277 were support elements.

Cruz said the financial and livelihood assistance of the Social Integration Program (SIP) under the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP) also proved advantageous for the rebel beneficiaries as they reintegrated into mainstream society.

“Corollary to Bantay-Laya campaign is the creation of the National Development Support Command (NADESCOM), the AFP’s primary unit tasked to assist in the government’s peace and development initiatives, including the implementation of the Kalayaan Barangay Program (KBP),” said Cruz.

AFP records show that from 2005 to present, a total of 1,663 various KBP projects were completed in 800 barangays and more are slated to be finished. These projects include the construction of school buildings, farm-to-market roads, water systems, health centers, and electrification programs.

“Bantay-Laya, along with the National Internal Security Plan (NISP), encourages synergy of efforts between the military, the Philippine National Police (PNP), the local government units (LGUSs), and other stakeholders in counter insurgency. This resulted to the declaration of 18 provinces as insurgency-free, most recent of which are Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija,” said Cruz. “A province is categorized as insurgency-free when the threat posed by the CPP/NPA is successfully downgraded into a mere law and order problem,” he explained.

Other provinces declared insurgency-free and whose Internal Security Operations (ISO) lead role were transferred to the Peace and Order Councils (POCs) are Guimaras, Siquijor, Biliran, Marinduque, La Union, Nueva Viscaya, Romblon, Bohol, Apayao, Aurora, Cebu, Quirino, Tarlac, Cavite, Camiguin, and Ifugao.

The CRS commander went on to say that the AFP’s Oplan Bantay-Laya has also significantly contributed to the improvement of the business climate and tourism in the provinces, citing Department of Tourism (DoT) statistics from 2002-2007 which indicated a consistent growth in tourist arrivals.