The village chief of Apo Island in Dauin, Negros Oriental has expressed her gratitude to various sectors of the community for pitching in to strengthen security and safety measures on the island made famous globally for its fantastic dive spots.
Liberty Pascobello, who heads the village council as well as owns a resort on Apo Island, disclosed that for three nights late last week, people on the island took turns in staying up all night to be on guard against possible intrusion of unauthorized motor boats and suspicious characters.
She confirmed that the arrival of a medium-sized motorized boat, the Bear Foot, with nine people on board at Apo Island had roused their suspicion upon learning that the boat was being chartered for P20,000 to buy scrap metal and other waste materials in the island.
According to Pascobello, unless otherwise allowed and with a permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, sea vessels are no longer allowed to drop anchor and stay the night at Apo Island.
She thanked Mayor Neil Credo, the Dauin police, headed by Insp. Romulus Delfin, the Coast Guard-Dumaguete station, and people on the island for acting with dispatch as soon as word was passed on regarding the presence of the motor boat Bear Foot.
The Bear Foot, which first arrived last Nov.3 at Apo Island, was told to leave immediately but was sighted again the following day within the territorial waters of the world famous dive destination.
Responding policemen, who learned the boat and its passengers were from Dipolog City, were told to turn back, especially after it was discovered that they did not have a business permit to present to authorities.
Meanwhile, Pascobello disclosed that Apo Island will be procuring a patrol speed boat, costing an estimated P350,000 similar to the one donated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to the Dauin local government, to complement sea patrols conducted by the Bantay Dagat.
Also, talks are underway between the Dauin LGU, the Protected Area Management Board and Apo Island officials, to establish a permanent police/Coast Guard outpost at Apo Island, she added.
The village chief also revealed that unless passengers on board a boat, whether local or foreign tourists, check in at any of the resorts, they are not allowed to stay overnight on the island and pitch tents on the beach to avoid untoward incidents as regards safety for swimmers, divers and snorkelers, protection of the marine sanctuaries and sanitation concerns. (PNA/JFP )