By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – The construction of the P30-million radar station of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) here will begin soon and is expected to finish before end-2020 or early next year.
Commodore Tito Alvin Andal, head of PCG-District Southern Visayas, along with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Executive Assistant George Zulueta, and Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) director Willy Au led the ground-breaking of the Bacolod radar station at the Bredco port on July 24.
Andal said that the two-storey building and tower is situated in a 500-square-meter lot area donated by Bredco management, with the support of the local government unit.
“This will be the first radar station in the city and Negros Occidental,” he said, adding that it will be manned by 20 personnel.
Andal said that the PCG allocated P10 million for the construction of the building and another P20 million for the equipment and tower development.
PCG is also planning to add more radar stations here and in some areas in the province which are considered strategic locations.
Andal said the primary objective of the station is to boost maritime surveillance capabilities and counter illegal activities at sea such as smuggling, and illegal fishing, among others.
“This will become a landmark not only for the Coast Guard, but for the whole country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lacson said that the Coast Guard’s role is crucial as it protects the archipelago.
With the recent development, Lacson said that this marks the substantial progress that will further allow the efficient delivery of services in terms of maritime safety, environmental protection, security and law enforcement, and search and rescue operations.
The Coast Guard protects the territorial integrity and maritime domain of the province, he added.
He also thanked the PCG for their committed service and vigilance amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.