DAVAO CITY – The Mati City government is planning to build a bay watch tower or substation for their Task Force Mati Shoreline Management at the Dahican Beach here.
THE demolished hut of Amihan sa Dahican. (Photo via Ivy Tejano)
City government employees demolished a hut on a public access road in preparation for the construction.
The Mati City Information Office said the Amihan sa Dahican, Balod sa Paglaum Inc. owned the hut but the land where it stood belonged to the city government.
Mati City Administrator Alan Andrada said the aim of the task force, which includes the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Mati Tourist Police, Maritime Police, Bantay Dagat, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), is to ensure the safety of the tourists at Dahican Beach.
Andrada said the substation will strengthen protection and assistance in on the Dahican shoreline against pollution and drowning.
“The local government issued a notice to Amihan in 2010 to vacate the place,” said Andrada who then was a councilor in Mati and served as the chairman of the city council committee on environment.
Andrada said numerous notices have been given to Amihan since 2023 regarding their relocation to an area inaccessible from the public access road. They have not heeded the call, thus, the demolition, he added.
He said the city also plans to relocate the Amihan hatchery to the Menzi shoreline for a safer and more organized environment for sea turtles and distance them from public disturbances.
“The relocation of the incubator was also recommended by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), City-ENRO, academia, and other government agencies in 2023 by the Republic Act 9147 or The Wildlife Resource Conservation and Protection Act,” Andrada added.
Andrada said the City Administrator’s Office has created a zoning and lane map for Dahican Beach for the fishermen and visitors in line with the enhanced security measures for Dahican shoreline.
The city has established three zones – the no swimming, swimming, and angling area. A fishing and mooring area and navigation lane have been designated for fishermen to prevent accidents involving swimmers being hit by boats.
“A curfew will be imposed on the public access road near Amihan from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. to avoid accidents. There will be buoy markers for fishermen and swimmers in the area,” Andrada said.
He said the city government is optimistic about reducing accidents on Dahican shoreline by implementing zoning and lane areas, especially with the expected increase in visitors and tourists this May and June due to the upcoming summer frolic event.
Andrada said that their task force and Dahican shoreline monitoring team are ready to respond to potential accidents.