As early as 2019, the Philippine Coast Guard had already identified the need for 140 coastal radar stations to detect, observe and monitor the movement of ships within the country’s maritime domain.
The first batch of 21 CG radar stations was supposed to be completed by 2020, with areas at the southern part of the country as the priority due to presence of busy sea lanes and the PCG’s limited budget.
Ten of them was to be funded by the agency while 11 radar systems were donated by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as grant-in-aid.
The PCG radar project locations were: Mapun, Tawi-Tawi; Bayawan City, Negros Oriental; Bredco Port, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan; Balicasag Island, Panglao, Bohol; Dapitan City, Zamboanga Del Norte; Taganak, Turtle Islands, Tawi-Tawi; Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi; Pearl Bank, Tawi-Tawi; and Sarangani, Davao Occidental.
On the other hand, the Japan-funded radar projects were to be built in Talisayan, Zamboanga City; Rio Hondo, Zamboanga City; Siraway, Zamboanga City; Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay; Baganian, Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur; Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat; Pangutaran, Sulu; Kawayan, Lugus Sulu; Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Basilan; and Port Area, Sulu.
We don’t have confirmation if the existing six (6) radar stations of the PCG were erected under both projects as the agency website did not have a list.
The systems purchased by the PCG reportedly includes a radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS) base receiver, coastal camera with day/night capability, tower various Base and Marine-band radios, hardware, software, CCTV systems and power sources for each radar station.
The PCG specified the Furuno radar brand and model, reportedly to march the radar systems donated by JICA.
Each radar station costs between P30 million to P50 million, with the building itself costing P10 million each.
On the other hand, the Hiyop radar station was co-located at the two-storey view deck constructed during the term of then Mayor Honesto Tabligan II, who signed a memorandum of understanding with PCG on the latter’s use of the facility.
It should be noted that while only P200,000 was allocated by the PCG for the tower foundation, with 905th PCGA Squadron senior adviser Capt. Ariel Tabirara donating the lacking construction materials.
The radar equipment, computer and accessories, as well as the tower itself, cost several million pesos, according to Lt. Elwin Madridano, chief of the CGD Bicol’s Weapons, Communications, Electronics and Information Systems (WCEIS).
The radar station just needs three more things: a transformer for its three-phase power, connection to the power grid, and WiFi connection.
For the moment, the radar is operated only as needed to conserve its bank of batteries as well as the fuel for its genset.
While it gets electricity from the nearby residence of Donata Oliver, the power consumption of the radar equipment is high enough that the monthly power budget of the CGSS Pandan would not be enough.
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NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. There was one particular sergeant that worried about everything possible. However, one day he came into the room whistling with a smile on his face. The other Sergeants noticed that he looked more relaxed than ever.
“What happened Sergeant? You seem in a good mood.”
He replied, “I’m paying a private to do all my worrying for me.”
“Well, how much are you paying him?”
“Two thousand dollars a week,” he replied.
“What? How can you afford that?!”
“I can’t,” he said, “but that’s his worry now.”