The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, was understandably absent during last Friday’s formal inauguration of the coastal radar station at Hiyop, Pandan.
At the time, he was busy directing PCG personnel and assets on its actions regarding the sunken oil tanker at Manila Bay.
Four months ago, he was here in Catanduanes together with Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez, PCG chief of staff Rear Admiral Hostillo Arturo Cornelio and CG District Bicol Commodore Philipps Soria to conduct a site inspection at the proposed Coast Guard Base at the former LORAN station in Quigaray, Bagamanoc.
It may be recalled that during the term of then Cong. Cesar Sarmiento, the latter urged the construction of the base at Panay island, from which the PCG could base its floating assets to patrol the country’s eastern seaboard, particularly the Benham Rise.
In fact, an initial funding of P200 million was allocated for the design-and-build contract, which was awarded to contractor Mindanao Rock based in Ozamiz City.
On Jan. 15, 2019, the PCG issued a Notice to Proceed to the contractor, which promptly got the 15 percent advance payment.
An issue over the ownership of the lot, however, proved to be difficult, prompting Mindanao Rock to ask for a time extension for the project which was supposed to be completed by July 10, 2020.
However, the PCG later decided to terminate the contract, with the amount paid to the contractor recovered as a result.
Just several months after this, the Coast Guard finally secured ownership of the 41,395-square meter property with a 300-meter beach front facing the Pacific Ocean.
The lot described as Lot No. 4454 is already titled in the name of the PCG under Original Certificate of Title No. 2019000235 covered by Special Patent No. SP-NGA-CAT-0002, issued on Oct. 19, 2019 by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Office No. V and signed by then OIC-Regional Executive Director Atty. Gil A. Aromin.
As of press time, there is no definite information as to the initial phase of the CG Base Catanduanes although there is a rumor that only P30 million has been allotted for the building.
The province and its people are glad that the establishment of the base is finally being realized, considering that among its primary beneficiaries are marginal fishermen who routinely get caught in the midst of inclement weather while catching fish far from the island.
It should be emphasized that such a base would complement the Hiyop radar station as it would be the jump-off point for PCG vessels in responding to territorial incursions.
At present, CGS Catanduanes and its substations only have aluminum boats which do not have the capability of intercepting cargo ships and other vessels out at sea beyond the 12-mile territorial limit.
To respond to such incursions and other maritime-related incidents, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela noted recently, PCG ships headed to Catanduanes would need to come from Subic, Pangasinan, or the Visayas area.
Every Catandunganon should wish that the national government, through the Coast Guard, would fast track the construction of the PCG base and subsequently assign a fast patrol boat or two at the former LORAN station.
It would erase the embarrassment that most Filipinos felt when Coast Guard personnel on board a borrowed motorized banca requested to board a Chinese research vessel docked off Bato town in 2021 and were rebuffed by the Chinese crew, most of whom were probably laughing inside their ship.
Too many local fishermen have died in recent years in mishaps due to the lack of rescue vessels that could tackle rough seas.
For far too many times, the people have seen PCG personnel postponing a search for missing fishermen as their small aluminum boats as well as motorized bancas are too frail to survive in heavy seas.
Another delay in the implementation of the base construction project would be inviting similar disasters.