Fishermen’s shelter completed on Batanes island

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  —  Government troops have completed construction of a fishermen’s shelter on Mavulis Island, the uninhabited and northernmost island of the country.

Also known as Y’Ami island, Mavulis is considered strategic, being the country’s northernmost frontier facing Taiwan and overlooking the busy Bashi Channel.

“We have built a helipad there,” Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Benjamin Madrigal said.

He added the single-story structure that will serve as fishermen’s shelter had additional features to serve as soldiers’ station in the island.

The shelter will accommodate fishermen from the island town of Itbayat, as well as those coming from Basco, in the Batanes group of islands.

Mavulis is located 38 kilometers from Itbayat.

Fishermen from Itbayat are known to avoid Mavulis due to the presence of foreign poachers.

Soldiers from the Northern Luzon Command under Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat started the construction of the shelter with the help of several volunteers and fishermen.

“Turning this project into a reality is not easy, particularly in dealing with natural obstacles, from the coordination and the ship-to-shore unloading of materials,” Salamat said.

“But through the commitment and dedication of our troops together with our stakeholders, we would be able to establish this facility for our local fishermen,” he said.

The construction started in 2018. Soldiers and other volunteers found it difficult to complete the task of building the shelter due to inclement weather and the island’s remoteness.

Salamat said the troops are already putting finishing touches on the shelter, which would be ready for occupancy next month.

The facility can accommodate 16 people, with a dining area, kitchen, living room and comfort room.

A solar power facility will also be installed to provide electricity to the entire island and a desalination plant for potable water.

“It will also have some appliances and other amenities that will depend on the provision of our stakeholders,” Navy Lt. Junior Grade Jec Palomado said.

A dual purpose area that might be used as fish dryer or helipad for much better transportation was added in the facility.  

To provide a concrete guide for fishermen, the Philippine Coast Guard earlier installed a lighthouse on the island with self-contained solar panel.

Nolcom started its maritime awareness and initiatives on Mavulis Island in 2016 when it hoisted the Philippine flag to proclaim sovereignty. – With Jaime Laude