Calayan execs back establishment of military facility

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 10, 2023): Calayan execs back establishment of military facility (By Leilanie Adriano)

CONSULTATIVE MEETING. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (left) consults with the people of Calayan on a remote island in Cagayan province on Wednesday (Aug. 9, 2023). Also in the photo are Calayan Mayor Joseph Llopis (center) and Maj. General Fernyl Buca, Northern Luzon Commander of the Philippine Air Force. (Photo by Leilanie G. Adriano)

CALAYAN, Cagayan – Officials in a remote island of Calayan in Cagayan province south of Taiwan have thrown their support to the proposed establishment of a military facility soon.

Calayan Mayor Joseph Llopis, a retired pilot of the Philippine Air Force, said this during a consultative meeting held at the session hall of Calayan on Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and other military top brass based in Northern Luzon were present during the meeting.

As a gesture of support, Calayan town, through its town council, has approved the donation of a 25-hectare government lot in favor of the development of a military facility to secure the Calayan border at the forefront of the country’s territory.

“All of us are in favor of donating the 25-hectare lot for the establishment of a military base here. Even if we are away physically from the central government, we are aware of what is happening around and we know that our place is a critical area because of the issues of the West Philippine Sea and Taiwan,” Llopis said during the consultative meeting.

He expressed confidence that the people’s rights and welfare will be safeguarded.

Before the construction of the facility, Teodoro visited the island to assure local communities in the area as he cited the need to converge all efforts for the strategic development of Calayan and all other islands of the Philippines being threatened by both internal and external factors.

“I am here to start a dialogue with you because the president has said that we should protect our territory and that is what we are going to do,” Teodoro said as he sought the help of the community on how to speed up recovery efforts after the island was recently hit by a super typhoon.

Teodoro added that this would also ensure prompt government response during natural disasters and humanitarian missions, guaranteeing the welfare of the people in the northern Philippine region.

Troops from the Marine Battalion Landing Team-10 are also stationed in Calayan which is a “preferred venue” for various military exercises, including those with the United States and Japan.

To aid typhoon victims in the area, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. initially turned over PHP3 million to Calayan town during his recent visit to Tuguegarao, Cagayan.

On top of that, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other inter-government agencies have delivered food aid and other essential supplies.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207538