Little-known town, former US base, seen defense key

VIRAC, Catanduanes—A little-known coastal town in the province may yet play a key role in guarding Philippine territory just as it helped the United States monitor weather and intrusions as an obscure US base from the end of World War II until the 1970s.

The province’s governor, Araceli Wong, proposed Bagamanoc town as site for a major naval base for the Philippine armed forces.

Wong said the town has a strategic location ideal for a naval base as “it directly faces the Pacific Ocean.”

Bagamanoc is a fifth class municipality at the northeastern part of the province and 93.4 kilometers from this capital town.

Armed forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., who was here on Monday, said he agreed that Bagsamanoc would be an ideal site for a naval base.

“We should have a strong naval presence in Catanduanes for identification of incoming or approaching vessels,” he said.

Catapang said Wong’s offer could address global issues on defense. He said it might be considered for discussion in line with the Philippine-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca).

Wong said the old US naval base is now being occupied by the province’s Coast Guard.

Bagamanoc was once the site of Long Range Navigation (Loran) transmitting stations operated by the United States after World War II.

Established in 1953, the Bagamanoc station was operated by the US Coast Guard until March 1971 before it was turned over to the Philippine Coast Guard in the same year.

All Loran stations in the country ceased operations on Dec. 31, 1977.

Loran processes pulsed signals from two pairs of radio stations to determine the location of a ship or airplane.

The US government had set up other Loran stations in Tarumpitao Point and Talampulan in Palawan province, Naulo Point in Zambales province and Batan in Batanes province. With Rafael Antonio, Inquirer Research