| DA-PRDP officially turned over the “Construction of Six (6) Units Watch Tower” subproject to the Municipality of Cortes, Surigao del Sur on February 10, 2023.

The six (6) three-storey solar-powered watchtowers were constructed to primarily help in the conservation and protection of the marine sanctuary of Cortes by housing the Bantay Dagat but will also help provide light for fisherfolk navigating at night. The solar-powered towers will be the first of their kind constructed by DA-PRDP.

Being a coastal community, the Municipality of Cortes is considered the number one supplier of fish for the Province of Surigao del Sur. In previous years, the province had to deal with the problem of illegal fishers which endangered their existing marine resources. With the construction of the six watch towers, the local government has the means to strengthen the monitoring and protection of their fish sanctuary situated in the six barangay recipients.

The turnover ceremony of the P16.5 million subproject was led by RPCO 13 Deputy Project Director and Regional Executive director Engr. Ricardo M. Onate Jr. with Municipality of Cortes Mayor Josie M. Bonifacio. In the brief ceremony, Mayor Bonifacio handed the ceremonial key of responsibility to the six barangay chairpersons who are tasked with the operation and maintenance of their respective watch towers.

In her message, Mayor Bonifacio expressed her gratitude for all the support from their partners from DA-PRDP, PSO Mindanao and the officials and workers in the LGU. Mayor Bonifacio also commended the quality of DA-PRDP subprojects.

“The quality of these watch towers is really good and we are thankful to PRDP for this very beautiful project,” said Mayor Bonifacio. “With these watch towers we can strengthen the safeguarding of our marine sanctuary. We now have improve visibility in the area against any illegal activities.”

For his part, Engr. Ricardo Onate Jr. thanked MLGU Cortes for completing the subproject despite the challenges to its implementation.

A total of 3,377 households will benefit from the watch towers located in the six barangays of Madrelino, Uba, Problacion, Tigak, Mabahin, and Matho.

Present also during the ceremony were Cortes SB members, LGU officials, Barangay Officials, MINDA, RPCO 13 led by Engr. Ricardo M. Onate Jr. and Deputy Project Director Jodel Tabada, and PSO Mindanao, on behalf of Project Director Abel James I. Monteagudo, represented by IBUILD Component Head Engr. Ma. Fe Gabunales. (Joy Montecalvo, PSO Min | Photos by Leonard Asuque | PSO Min)