CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council has asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) through Department of Budget Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio Abad to build a lighthouse in Lauis Ledge.
“Having a lighthouse within the territorial boundaries of the City of Talisay will be a deterrent for an occurrence of sea accident,†said Councilor Antonio Bacaltos, in his resolution.
Lighthouses are used for warning ships at night or in heavy fog that they are nearing land, preventing ships from getting into shallow waters.
Pilots of small aircraft also use lighthouses as a key landmark or frame of reference when they do not use electronic guidance systems.
Bacaltos said having a lighthouse will serve as additional guide and reference to vessels transiting and to avoid tragedies as what happened last August 16 when MV St. Thomas Aquinas sank within minutes of colliding with MV Sulpicio Express Siete.
Even with the popularity of new navigation systems, lighthouses are still being used and upgraded worldwide.
Bacaltos said that in the event that an electronic navigation system fails, a lighthouse can save lives by alerting seafarers and fishermen of rocks, shoals, and other dangers. (FREEMAN)