MISAMIS Oriental Gov. Peter Unabia expressed support on the creation of a Philippine Navy base in the province.
The planned facility will be established at the sprawling Phividec industrial estate that is intended for veterans whose location spans two towns.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro personally told Unabia of the government’s plan during a visit November 30 in Cagayan de Oro City.
Unabia told reporters present during the occasion at Lumbia air base that he completely supports all the programs of the Department of National Defense (DND) since it strengthens the security and sovereignty of the country.
Mindanao – which is militarily divided into two commands – only has one existing naval base located in Zamboanga City under Westmincom.
Teodoro said the new facility will have a dockyard, a maintenance base and a logistics center.
The waters off Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental where Phividec industrial estate sits has a depth of 13 meters, making it ideal to accommodate larger vessels such as Philippine Navy ships.
It is also home to Mindanao Container Terminal which has accommodated international civilian cargo ships since 2005.
Unabia, however cautioned Teodoro that there are informal settler-families living in the vicinity of the proposed naval base.
At that point, Teodoro promptly called Undersecretary Melchor Mison Jr. to take care of the matter.
With growing concern from China, the Philippine Navy has been modernizing its fleet and facilities over the years.
