President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has officially lifted Proclamation No. 55, which declared a state of national emergency due to lawlessness and violence in Mindanao back in 2016. The decision comes after the peace and order situation in the region has witnessed remarkable improvements, as stated in Proclamation No. 298 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on July 25, 2023.

The proclamation highlights that the conditions that led to the issuance of Proclamation No. 55 have now been significantly mitigated or reduced. This achievement has been attributed to the successful implementation of focused military and law enforcement operations, alongside programs aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive peace in the region.
"The government's relentless efforts have yielded substantial gains in improving and restoring peace and order in Mindanao," the proclamation emphasized.

The lifting of Proclamation No. 55 (s. 2016) is expected to have wide-ranging positive effects. Notably, it is anticipated to provide a boost to economic activity and expedite the recovery of the local economy, which had been previously hampered by the prevalence of violence and lawlessness in the area.

Proclamation No. 55 was originally issued on September 4, 2016, in response to the grave threat posed by private armies, local warlords, bandits, criminal syndicates, terrorist groups, and religious extremists across the island groups.