TUGUEGARAO CITY — The Batanes provincial government, a private cement company, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have signed a memorandum of agreement to build a multi-functional fishermen’s shelter in Mavulis Island, the farthest island-town of Itbayat in Batanes province, the military said on Sunday.
The memorandum was signed on Friday in Basco town by Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco, Republic Cement and Builders Materials Inc. President-Executive Director Renato Sunico, General Rey Leonardo Guerrero as Armed Forces chief and Lt. General Emmanuel Salamat as Army’s Northern Luzon commander, a military press statement said.
Earlier, a manifesto showing support of the local government to the project was given by Cayco to Guerrero, “portraying a friendly community supportive to the collaborative approach in attaining desired common objectives.”
The signing, witnessed by villagers, has been aimed at “raising awareness on maritime governance, maritime presence and the importance of inter-agency coordination in bringing change to our society,” the agreement read.
The multi-purpose fishermen’s shelter in Mavulis can house local fisherfolk of Batanes and visiting troops guarding the shores and seas in the area. Fishermen can seek refuge and stay in the facility when caught stranded during bad weather, it was reported.
Mavulis, a typhoon-prone island, is a rich fishing and farming ground but the peril of the high seas has also been threatened by alleged intrusion of other countries in the area, Guerrero added. (Bill Visaya/PNA)
