Local Zones of Peace General Survey and Map
Naga City
Official Title: Naga City Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality [ZOPFAN]
Department: Camarines Sur
Region: Luzon
Population: 100,000+
Location: Zone consists of urban area of Naga City [c20%]; remainder in surrounding rural area.
Ethnic Mix:
IDP Population:
Date of Establishment: September 1988
Traditional Political Affiliation:
Trigger Events: Penafrancia Fiesta used as the original occasion for temporary declaration of a zone of peace; idea later extended to make the concept permanent.
Persons/organizations involved in establishment:
Leadership: City Mayor, Jesse M.Robrado; Hearts of Peace [HOPE] organisation.
Supporters:
Declared objectives: Bilateral ceasefire; no public display of firearms [save for local police]; no private armies, vigilantes or “Sparrow” units; participation of all political groups; opportunities for dialogue.
Relations with local government bodies:
Mayor’s Office: Mayor played leading role in formation of ZOPFAN.
Governor’s Office:
Memberships in regional organizations:
Organizational structure:
Community Meetings:
Decision making Bodies:
Functional committees:
Valued goods produced in region:
Local Armed Actors in region:
Army: Armed Forces of the Philippines
Paramilitaries: Sparrow units; vigilantes.
Guerrillas: New Peoples Army.
Arrangements with LAA’s : Bilateral ceasefire; sanctuary for wounded; rest and recreation zone for combatants.
Significant Events:
Further Comments: Zone organised in reasonably peaceful context on grounds that there was no need to wait until a “war zone” actually developed. Critics argued that there was no “critical mass” of general support or consensus for the initiative, lukewarm support from the Church and strong opposition from the local AFP commander.
Contacts:
Last Updated: December 2005.
Further Reading:
