The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced this weekend that its project to repair and rehabilitate dozens of degenerating lighthouses across the archipelago is on track of its target to reach 100 percent operational efficiency by the end of the year. Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesman, said that from 95 non-operating lighthouse stations listed at the end of 2009, the project has reactivated 41 of them to date. At the start of this year, Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, PCG commandant, took cognizance of the Coast Guard's commitment to ensure the maintenance of all 558 lighthouses throughout the country, 99 percent of which are solar powered. Balilo said this is pursuant to Republic Act 9933 (The Coast Guard Act of 2009) which mandates the PCG to "coordinate, develop, establish, maintain and operate aids to navigation, vessel traffic system, maritime communications and search and rescue facilities within the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines." When the operational status of the country's light house stations went down to as low as 82.87 percent last year due to poor maintenance, Tamayo had to act. He pursued the prioritization and rationalization in terms of funding by the Department of Transportation and Communications and initiated the conduct of simultaneous deployments of Coast Guard Field Maintenance and Installation Teams to carry out the intensive repairs needed. At present, the operational status of lighthouses in the country has increased to 90.14 percent with 54 defective lighthouse stations remaining for repair and rehabilitation, Balilo said.
