AFP inaugurates naval detachment on Batanes' Mavulis Island

A new naval detachment that will serve as a headquarters for military troops was inaugurated on the Philippines' northernmost island of Mavulis on Wednesday.

“This island underscores the strategic importance of this detachment. It serves as our watchful sentinel in the northernmost beaches of our maritime borders, ensuring the security and sovereignty of our homeland,” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) North Luzon Command chief Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca said in Mav Gonzales' report on “24 Oras.”

Part of Batanes province and just off its largest island of Itbayat, Mavulis is the northernmost island of the Philippines and is near Taiwan. It is among the 13 islands in northern Luzon where sovereign markers were placed to identify them as part of the territories of the Philippines.

No residents are living on the remote isle except for 16 government officials and military uniformed personnel stationed there.

Senator Francis Tolentino, chairperson of the Senate committee on maritime zones, said the island's newly inaugurated infrastructure will help mark the Philippines’ maritime zone, adding the island was included in China’s ten-dash line map.

“‘Yung panghuling dash papuntang Taiwan Strait nandun si Mavulis. Mavulis is very strategic and significant,” said Tolentino.

(The last dash was near Taiwan and Mavulis was there. Mavulis is very strategic and significant.)

“’Yan na yung vantage point natin hindi lang sa weather disturbances, climate change, protection of our fisherfolk kundi our territorial integrity,” he added.

(It is our vantage point not only for weather disturbances, climate change, and protection of our fisherfolk but also our territorial integrity.)

Other infrastructure projects being eyed for the development of Mavulis Island are the construction of a PAGASA weather station and an office of the Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco said some illegal poachers were previously seen on the island due to its proximity to Taiwan.

“Nangingisda sila dito tapos yung iba siguro corals pwede nila makuha. Pero di namin nakikita, kadalasan isda ang kinukuha nila dito. Tsaka siguro coconut crabs,” she said.

(Some illegal poachers go here. They mainly catch fish or coconut crabs.)

“Nabawasan na yung pumupunta. May nakikita pa sila pero sa laot na,” she added.

(There are fewer of them now, however. They were being seen sometimes but they were on the shore.)

No reports of Filipino fishers being harassed have been reported on the island.

“Meron din kaming pangamba pero dahil dinedevelop ito, mas panatag kami ngayon,” the governor said.

(We have concerns but we’re feeling better now because of the developments.)

“Siguro yung EDCA site pwede pagusapan. Tinutulungan kami ng US Embassy at wine-welcome namin ang Balikatan Exercises dito,” she said.

(The establishment of EDCA sites may be discussed. The US Embassy is helping us with that. We also welcome Balikatan exercises here.) — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA Integrated News