A New Chapter for Kalinga: Province poised to be declared “Insurgency-Free” after 50 years

Tabuk City, Kalinga – With insurgent groups no longer posing threats to local stability in Kalinga, the province is expected to attain its “insurgency-free” status this March 2026.

The information was disclosed by the 5th Infantry Division (ID), which revealed that Kalinga is set to be declared insurgency-free, with its capital, Tabuk City, scheduled for formal recognition under the State of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SSIPS) this month.

An insurgency-free status signifies that armed rebel groups operating in a specific area have been dismantled, incapacitated, or significantly weakened to the point that they no longer pose threats to local stability. Attaining this status indicates that a municipality, city, or province is considered safe for development and investments, as it is free from active large-scale encounters or extortion activities by armed groups.

According to the 5th ID, Kalinga had been affected by insurgency since the 1970s. The division added that the province became vulnerable to armed movements and rebel influence due to the rugged terrain of the Cordillera Administrative Region, as well as socio-economic challenges and historical grievances.

One of the identified communist terrorist groups that operated in Kalinga was Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Baggas (KLG Baggas), which was officially dismantled on June 18, 2025 through a resolution issued by the National Joint Peace and Order Council and the Security Coordinating Center.

This development resulted in the Gawad Parangal being awarded to the 503rd Infantry Brigade by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) on December 4, 2025.

Through sustained security operations and peace-building initiatives of the government, Kalinga has transformed from a rebel-affected area into a developing province that is now poised to receive its insurgency-free status.