Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi visits Panguan Island for all-in-one mission

Posted to Philippine Defense News (Feb 18, 2022): Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi visits Panguan Island for all-in-one mission

Photo courtesy of Western Mindanao Command, AFP

Commander of 2nd Marine Brigade/Naval Task Group/ Joint Task Force Tawi-Tawi BGEN ROMEO T RACADIO PN(M), together with his Battalion Commander LTCOL CHARLIE S CANA PN(M), PN Vessel (BRP Jose Loor Sr-PC390) Commanding Officer CDR JULIUS D TUTTOH PN, Naval Installation Unit Commander LT MARLON M YBERA, Founder/ School Admin of JADES Badjao Learning School Mr. & Mrs. Elie Arana, and civilian Geodetic Engineers conducted All-in-One Mission in Panguan (Pangungan) Island, Tawi-Tawi on February 16, 2022.

Several activities were conducted during the mission which include the initial mapping survey of the island conducted by the volunteer-Geodetic engineers for future master development planning; hydrographic survey by 61st Force Reconnaissance Company (FRC) divers for possible boat wharf/pier establishment; Groundbreaking for the construction of multi-purpose facility thereat through the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) CSR for the Badjao community in partnership with 2MBDE and JLBCI; medical consultation and minor treatment of Badjao patients by Forward Support Medical Team (FSMT) led by CPT PACION MC; resupply of water and reprovision/food to deployed troops and Badjao community in partnership with JLBCI Administrators and Teachers; tree planting of fruit bearing plants/ coconut and lastly, environmental scanning of the island through interviews conducted by JLBCI to Badjao residents in the island.

All activities including the conduct of communication exercise among island-deployed and patrolling JTF units were conducted during the regular TDO patrol of PC390 along the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement (TCA) common and unilateral corridors and in the waters of Sibutu Strait, Tawi-Tawi.

Panguan Island (locally known as Pangungan or resting place) is the most remote island of the southernmost province Philippines, Tawi-Tawi. It is located at the marginal area of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia. It is also called Malamanok island by some locals. A white beach and turquoise waters gateway.

The island is 100 km away from mainland Bongao but 17 km away only from the nearest island of mainland North Borneo. The said island was once used by terrorist group, Abu Sayyaf and lawless criminals/ smugglers as one of their hideouts in the Sulu Archipelago.

The mission was conducted in line with the thrust of the C, JTF-TT/2MBDE BGEN RACADIO PN(M) to promote and sustain peace and development initiatives in the province through inter-agency partneships that would address the root causes of armed conflict from advocating good governance; promotion of socio-economic, cultural cohesiveness and harmony; good enviromental management and dissemination of good information particularly to the vulnerable and marginalized sectors in the farthermost island/ islets in the south western frontier of the country.

https://defense.ph/2022/02/18/joint-task-force-tawi-tawi-visits-panguan-island-for-all-in-one-mission/