Balicasag Island Needs Navy Patrol

[pioneer]

By the Bohol Chronicle

The clamor for tighter security and protection at the world famous dive spot, Balicasag Island, may not be possible as far as permanently deploying a patrol boat of the Philippine Navy is concerned.

This development surfaced even as Capt. Honorio Robert Balanon Jr., commander of the naval forces in the Visayas committed during the meeting of the Prov'l Development Council (PDC) last Thursday to transfer the patrol boat from the City Port to Balicasag.

The Navy official inspected Balicasag last Friday and found no port where the Navy patrol boat can be stationed.

The request for a patrol boat to be stationed in Balicasag came strongly from the Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) in a bid to protect the area against coral destructions and keep safe the dolphins off the nearby Pamilacan Island.

Gov. Erico Aumentado and Rep. Edgar Chatto supported the call for the navy boat's deployment at the Balicasag Island during a luncheon discussion at the Bohol Tropics last Thursday.

The brief discussion to protect the corals as well as the dolphins in Panglao and Baclayon seawaters triggered a top-level meeting which is scheduled in Manila with General Manager Mark Lapid of the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) and Philippine Navy Admiral Golez in attendance.

This Manila conference will discuss the present status of Balicasag as a naval reserved area which raises queries on the legal implications as to the imposition of control as far as preservation and other tourism-related activities in the area are concerned.

[raldampong]

The navy involvement on Balicasag because of the lighthouse in Balicasag, other than that wala na.

Dapat they should be on patrol in the sorrounding areas nearby Pamilacan and nearby Islands tungod sa daghang incident of Drowing and the rescue is never on time.

Dili lang kay magpasinaw sa ilang lubot.