FREE CHARGING. The Navy's Marine Landing Battalion Team (MBLT) 10 provided free battery charging to residents of Fuga Island off the province of Cagayan. The Navy on Wednesday (Jan. 4, 2023) said this aims to ensure that residents of the island are able to communicate with their loved ones during the holiday season. (Photo courtesy of MBLT-10)
MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) said its Marine Landing Battalion Team (MBLT) 10 helped ensure that residents of Fuga Island off the province of Cagayan were able to communicate with their loved ones during the Christmas season.
This came after the unit provided free battery charging for island residents' mobile phones and other communication devices mid-December last year.
The far-flung island which has no reliable power supply is home to around 1,939 residents, based on data as of 2020.
"The MBLT-10 of the 4MBde (4th Marine Brigade) stationed in Fuga Island, one of the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAS) in the province of Cagayan, continuously provides free battery charging to the residents," the PN said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Through the MBLT-10's efforts, the islanders were able to connect and communicate with their loved ones all throughout the holidays.
"Through the unit's efforts to provide free charging, the people of Fuga Island were able to connect to their families and loved ones outside the Island, making their holiday season more meaningful," the PN said.
The Northern Luzon Command on Aug. 8, 2022, through the Naval Forces Northern Luzon established a Marine detachment in the area to constitute and execute the plans of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to build defense facilities on the island, which will include a sheltered pier, a naval station, and a littoral monitoring station.
Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte then instructed that some 20 hectares in the area be given to the PN for the construction of a naval detachment. (PNA)
