Coast Guard to construct 80 new lighthouses

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to construct 80 new lighthouses that would not only guide mariners but also become tourist attractions.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo recently said lighthouses now no longer just serve as the last course for direction of mariners and fishermen at nighttime, but can also boost the tourism potential of a locality.

“The lighthouse reinforces the historical significance of a place. What makes it a viable tourist spot primarily is its location. When you imagine a lighthouse, it is situated usually on top of a hill of an island and looks out into the sea,” he said. 

With its plan to build new lighthouses, the PCG has to incorporate the tourism aspect in the design to draw the interest of local and foreign tourists. 

Balilo though said they would need the support of local government units and communities hosting the lighthouses to maximize the structures’ tourism potential.

The country currently has 562 lighthouses. Some of them, however, have to be repaired, prompting the PCG to launch the “Adopt a Lighthouse” program some seven years ago primarily for Spanish-era lighthouses.