Construction of an inter-agency building and Philippine Navy
(PN) detachment in Mahatao, Batanes formally started on Thursday.
The groundbreaking ceremonies were spearheaded by Department
of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Batanes Rep. Henedina
Razon-Abad and Vice Gov. Ronald A. Aguto.
The project, initiated and proposed by Rep. Razon-Abad in
2014, is included in the 2016 General Appropriations Act budget of the PN and
amounts to Php166.519 million.
It includes a naval logistics facility, wharf and beaching
areas, small craft facility, and communications and electronics facilities.
“We envision a naval base that shall have accessible naval
installations which could provide logistics, training and others support
services in the conduct of prompt and sustained fleet and marine operation,”
Gazmin said.
Aside from the PN, the inter-agency building will also be
utilized by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources of the Department of Agriculture.
With the construction, the PN aims to improve the existing
capability and infrastructures of the current Mahatao Boat Shelter to be
utilized for training exercises, combat, and humanitarian assistance and
disaster response operations.
“This place is chosen as the most strategic area as
testified by historical facts during World War II. It has also naturally
protected and safer harbor spaces for our naval vessels, considering that the province of Batanes
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