BALANACAN STATION - THE MOTHER OF ALL SURVEYS

Top photo: The original Luzon Datum of 1911 marker.
Middle photo: Jovs Lilles of the Marinduque Tourism Office being interviewed by host Franzen of "Trip na Trip", TV program on Channel 2 during a special feature on Marinduque recently.
Bottom: View from the triangulation site overlooking San Andres Island.

(Photos courtesy of Jov Lilles and Gerry Jamilla).

TASK GROUP BALANACAN CREATED
(From PRS92 Newsletter Vol. 1 No. 2 2008. NAMRIA)

NAMRIA Administrator Diony A. Ventura has created the Task Group
Balanacan headed by Mapping Department (MD) Director Jose
Galo P. Isada, Jr. to undertake the development of the
triangulation stations Balanacan and Baltazar.

The task group will undertake research and gather available records and maps/plan, coordination meetings with concerned agencies, and information campaign activities. It will conduct resource assessment and demarcation surveys. It will prepare plans
and secure necessary construction permits or clearances from concerned authorities for the civil works that will be undertaken.

The Balanacan Station defined the origin of the Luzon Datum
of 1911. All surveys in the Philippines were corrected and based
on the position of this station. The formed triangulation network
spanned vast distances with stations that were located in high
mountain peaks and far across straits and channels.

On 02 June 2008, a team headed by MD OIC Assistant
Director Randolf S. Vicente conducted a reconnaisance survey
of the vicinity of the “mother of all surveys” in Balanacan, Mogpog
town, Marinduque.