“Peace begins in our barangays and grows through unity” - Mayor Malannag on Balbalan’s role in Kalinga’s peace campaign

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The unwavering support of the Local Government Unit of Balbalan in sustaining peace and order in Kalinga was recognized during the province’s declaration under the State of Stable Internal Peace and Security (SSIPS).

Kalinga officially obtained the SSIPS status on May 12 after the collective efforts of security forces, local officials, and communities led to the neutralization of insurgency-related threats in the province.

During the event, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Provincial Government of Kalinga, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), and the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) awarded the Seal of SSIPS to Balbalan, along with the other seven LGUs in the province.

“The Seal of the State of Stable Internal Peace and Security is hereby solemnly conferred upon the Municipality of Balbalan in recognition of the unity, resilience, and shared commitment of its people and leaders in achieving and sustaining peace and stability—through the Kalinga Convergence for Community, Resilience, Empowerment, Sustainability, and Transformation (KCREST),” stated in the plaque awarded to the municipality.

It further stated that the recognition also honors the enduring legacy of the Bodong System, which continues to guide communities toward harmony, justice, and mutual respect.

In his message during the awarding ceremony, Mayor Almar P. Malannag said the peace now being experienced in Balbalan is already reflected in the daily lives of the constituents, particularly in communities once affected by armed conflict.

He emphasized that the provincial declaration proved that peace efforts become stronger when they begin at the barangay level and are sustained through unity.

“In Balbalan, the silence in our mountains is no longer uneasy. It is the sound of people finally living without fear and of communities ready to reap the fruits of true development. The provincial declaration proves that peace begins in our barangays and grows stronger when we stand united as one province,” said Malannag.

The mayor then urged fellow iKalingas to continue working together so that the peace achieved would become a “lasting foundation of progress in the province.”