Two Coast Guard sub-stations set for Negros Oriental

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY – After nearly seven years of continuous effort to secure land for Coast Guard sub-stations in Negros Oriental, the Coast Guard District Southern Visayas (CGDSV) is close to its goal with the acquisition of lots in Vallehermoso and Manjuyod.

Commodore Ludovico Librilla Jr., CGDSV commander, said they partnered with the local government of Vallehermoso and the barangay council of Campuyo in Manjuyod for the project.

On Aug. 19, Librilla and Vallehermoso Mayor Aloma Monica Serion signed a deed of usufruct, granting CGDSV the right to use a 30-square-meter building in Barangay Poblacion for 25 years.

The facility will serve as the future Coast Guard Sub-Station Vallehermoso.

The municipal government welcomed the Coast Guard’s presence, especially amid reports of illegal fishing, and offered the use of its rubber boat and speedboat to the CGDSV.

It also pledged continued support for maritime safety initiatives.

Librilla proposed joint training programs with municipal personnel to improve skills in water safety and disaster response.

On Aug. 21, CGDSV signed a memorandum of agreement with Barangay Campuyo, represented by Captain Julius Sigasig, for a second sub-station.

Under the agreement, the barangay granted the Coast Guard the right to use and modify an office space located behind the barangay hall for 20 years.

This space will become the Coast Guard Sub-Station Manjuyod.

Librilla said the construction of both facilities will be funded by the Coast Guard.

Currently, there are 32 Coast Guard sub-stations across the Negros Island Region (NIR), with new ones recently activated in Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

Negros Oriental has the highest number of sub-stations in the region, according to Librilla, since Negros Occidental is split into northern and southern sectors.

These sub-stations aim to strengthen CGDSV’s capacity to deliver faster and more efficient emergency response and maritime services.

Librilla said strategically placing sub-stations in coastal municipalities will improve response times to maritime incidents such as drowning, flooding and other emergencies.

He added that sub-stations also allow the Coast Guard to effectively monitor maritime activity and enforce safety and security protocols involving watercraft and the general riding public.

“Hopefully, by the end of this year, we can achieve our goal of establishing more sub-stations,” Librilla said.

This initiative reflects CGDSV’s continued commitment to building safer, more resilient communities across the region.