THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to gain grounds in Samar province, one of the most insurgence-infested areas in the country, as more towns were classified as development-ready and declared either insurgence-free or manageable conflict-affected areas.

Capt. Gene Orense, spokesman of the Eighth Infanry (Stormtroopers) Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army, said on Tuesday that the municipalities of San Policarpio and Sulat, both in eastern Samar, were added to the list of manageable conflict-affected and development-ready areas.

The joint declaration was signed by the municipal mayors of the said towns and the commander of the 801st Infantry Brigade of the 8ID, bringing to 12 towns and one city the total number of areas listed as free from New People’s Army (NPA) influence.

The other areas in eastern Samar that were jointly declared by the AFP and the local government units as manageable conflict-affected and ready for development are the municipalities of Taft, Balangkayan, Maydolong, Mercedes, Hernani and San Julian.

Declared as insurgence-free are the towns of Salcedo, Guian and Borongan City.

Col. Romeo Labador, 801st brigade commander, said that the situation in Samar now is far better than during the previous years.

“Samar now is more peaceful than before,” he said.

Samar, along with the Negros provinces, Davao, Caraga and the Bicol regions, is among the remaining NPA-infested areas in the country.

So far, declared among 24 provinces as insurgence-free are: Ifugao, Aklan, Apayao, Kalinga, Nueva Viscaya, Quirino, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Biliran, Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, South Cotabato, La Union, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cavite, Marinduque, Romblon, Guimaras, Siquijor, and Northern and Southern Leyte.

The military claimed that from a peak of 24,430 revolutionary fighters in mid-1980s, the group’s strength has dwindled to 4,043 due to battle losses and surrenders.

It is disputed though by the Communist Party of the Philippines, saying that the NPA revolutionary forces were steadily growing in strength and poised for big leap in the coming years.

Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr., AFP spokesman said that the military’s new anti-insurgency strategy, the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, has been very effective and has made significant headways as far as ending the insurgency is concerned.

The IPSP Bayanihan was implemented two years ago. The strategy centers on a “whole of nation” and “people-centered” approach and less on armed confrontation in winning back the hearts and minds of the people.