Peace, responsive governance drive Dinagat Island’s sustainable development
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Sustained peace, responsive governance, and strong national-local government collaboration continue to drive sustainable and inclusive development in Dinagat Islands, bringing government services closer to communities, strengthening public safety, and improving the quality of life of Dinagatnons in support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
During the Kapihan sa PIA on June 29 in Dinagat Islands, Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. underscored the provincial government’s efforts to sustain peace and security, address emerging public safety concerns, mitigate the effects of rising global fuel prices, and promote economic growth through close coordination with national government agencies.
Amid global fuel price volatility, Demerey assured residents that the provincial government is working closely with the national government and concerned stakeholders to cushion the impact on communities while ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential public services.
“We are not exempted from the crisis, but the provincial government is doing everything it can. Dinagat Islands is prepared, and with the help of the national government, we are working to help Dinagatnons mitigate the impact of the fuel crisis,” he said.
The governor said these interventions complement the national government’s efforts to strengthen energy resilience, protect communities from global economic disruptions, and sustain local economic activity.
Demerey emphasized that lasting peace remains the foundation of inclusive development, stressing that bringing government services closer to communities helps address the root causes of insurgency while creating greater opportunities for education, livelihood, employment, and investment.
He cited Dinagat Islands’ distinction as the region’s first province under a state of Stable Internal Peace and Security SIPS in 2014, and welcomed Caraga’s declaration as a region with SIPS status, saying these milestones demonstrate that peace and development reinforce one another.
“Maintaining peace must be sustained. We should continue bringing government services closer to the people because development is one of the most effective ways to address the root causes of insurgency,” Demerey said.
Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Demerey noted that Caraga recorded the fastest economic growth in Mindanao and the second-fastest growth nationwide in 2025. He attributed the region’s strong economic performance to sustained peace, effective governance, and close collaboration among national government agencies, local government units, and development partners.
He said peace and stability continue to attract investments, generate employment, accelerate infrastructure development, and expand economic opportunities, contributing to the Marcos administration’s goal of building a more competitive, resilient, and inclusive national economy.
To sustain these gains, the provincial government has intensified its campaign against rape and strengthened road safety initiatives in partnership with the Philippine National Police and other government agencies to further protect communities and save lives.
“Although Dinagat Islands is an insurgency-free and drug-cleared province, we continue to face challenges. We have intensified our campaign against rape, and we are already seeing positive results,” Demerey said.
He called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, local government units, civil society organizations, and communities to preserve peace and ensure that development benefits every Filipino.
Demerey said these initiatives embody the Bagong Pilipinas vision of transparent governance, safer communities, resilient local economies, and inclusive development.
The Kapihan sa PIA, one of the flagship public information programs of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), serves as a platform for national government agencies, local government units, and development partners to communicate government programs, projects, policies, accomplishments, and priority initiatives directly to the public, fostering transparency, public awareness, and citizen participation in governance. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
