THE WRITTEN PUBLICATION OF BRP HYDROGRAPHER PRESBITERO

VOL 1 ISSUE 3
TODAY: PARTLY CLOUDY | TOMORROW: SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2021

COST TO COAST:
information. It also provided an
historical answer to the titular
question of hydrographic survey's
value.
THE VALUE OF HYDROGRAPHY (Continued to page 2)

DID YOU KNOW?

The first Pathfinder. One of the earliest Coast & Geodetic Survey vessels
to perform Hydrography in the Philippines. (NOAA, url: library.noaa.gov/Pathfinder)
Hydrography is the science of
measuring the physical
characteristics and features of
bodies of water. It seems
complicated and technical but to
the general populace, is it really
that important? Suppose one
wishes to embark on a mental
exercise, how valuable is the field
of hydrography? How can one
even put a price on scientific
endeavor?
IN THE OLD DAYS
The digital collection of the
University of Michigan Library
stores Annual Reports from the
American Philippine
Commission. These reports
dated from 1901 to 1916 and
documented immediate needs or
developing projects of the new
colonial government. Among
them, hydrographic and
topographic surveys were
executed by the US Coast &
Geodetic Survey to facilitate
safe navigation of ships to the
islands. Modernization of ports
harbor surveys in the island of
Luzon and one (1) in Tacloban,
Leyte were accomplished. Eleven
(11) tide stations and fifteen (15)
magnetic observation stations
were erected throughout the
country. Back in Manila, nine (9)
charts were published and several
notices to mariners were printed.
During this year, modification of a
steamer ship for survey was
successful along with procurement
of office quarters for the service's
personnel.
Five years later in 1906, 27 charts were
already in print and 2,647 km of
seacoastsweresurveyedbyfive(5)large
vessels:Pathfinder,Fathomer,Research,
Romblon, and Marinduque. The annual
reports of Coast & Geodetic Survey
documented various interesting
$300K
$262,500
(Php 371M today)
$150K
that BRP Hydrographer Presbitero
once played a part in seizing
millions of pesos worth of illegally-
cut logs?
Using the vessel’s GNSS capability,
BRP Hydrographer Presbitero
aided the raiding team composed of
uniformed personnel of the
Philippine Army and Philippine
National Police to retrieve around
3,749 logs in Agusan Del Norte.
The raid–with around Php 80M
worth of logs confiscated–was said
at the time to be the biggest anti-
illegal logging operation in
CARAGA region according to the
news that appeared on MALAYA
broadsheet newspaper dated 21
June 2002.
In these times of massive flooding
and intense weather disturbances
due to climate change, the
Command expresses its desire to
continually support the government
and the DENR’s campaign against
such illegal acts and other activities
that may destroy the environment.
We believe that we are all part of
the solution. We maintain this as a
part of our duty.

and harbors also began,

especially with the Port of
Manila that at that time was too $2,756
shallow, dangerous, ergo (Php 4M today) 1903 1905

expensive for the largest of 1901 1906

cargo ships. From January to Annual budget for the C&GS kept Philippine Star article from 21 June 2002
October 1901, around eight (8) increasing from 1901 to 1906. detailing the results of the mission.

DID YOU KNOW?
In addition to the chartered vessels
and their crew, the office structure of
the 1900s survey corps were:
1. Computing Division
(HGDMS, POD, and MGB of today)
Receipt and computation of raw data;
tide and sounding reduction;
geographical position, azimuth, and
magnetic computations.
2. Nautical Division
(MAD)
Issuance and correction of charts &
notices to mariners. Filing of papers
with regard to vessels.
3. Chart Construction Division
(NCD)
Hydrographic or topographic sheet
plotting and inking; preparation of
drawings.
4. Correspondence and Property
Division
(CIS and OSS)
Vouchers, time records, supply &
instrument logistics, property
accounting.
In 1906 there were 36 office
employees in Manila with roles such as
draftsmen, recorders, nautical experts,
messengers, and the Director.
COST TO COAST:
THE VALUE OF HYDROGRAPHY
by Hydro345
(Continued from page 1)
From average field expenses and
total survey output, the 1906
report valued the average cost of
hydrographic field work of a square
mile at $38.00. Accounting for 115
years' worth of inflation, their
bathymetric surveys costed around
$1,104.46 (per sq mile) or roughly
₱20,745.94 pesos per square
kilometer .*
VOL 1 ISSUE 3
WITH THE NEW WAYS December 2020 alone, the sum of
Philippine imports and exports
For comparison, 11,396.787 sq km
amounted to $13.66 billion (PSA,
of bathymetric data were collected
2020). A good portion of those
last 2019. The 2019 survey
activities and vessel maintenance goods were once cargo aboard
budget combined were at ships. In fact, 42 million metric tons
₱147,866,000. Given these values, of cargo was recorded for foreign
one can estimate the cost of trade by the PPA from Oct-Dec
surveys last 2019. It may be a crude 2020. Passenger and Ro-Ro traffic
valuation due to the complexities of last quarter was at 3.6 million
government budgeting, but for this passengers (82%↓ vs 4th Quarter
exercise, the cost of a modern 2019) and 1.4 million units
hydrographic survey may be respectively (32%↓ vs 4th Quarter
around ₱12,974.35 per square 2019) (PPA, 2020). Despite being in
kilometer. It is also interesting to the millions, these 2020 statistics
note that 113 years later, the cost were actually contractions from
of bathymetric activity, even with the previous year due to the
orders of magnitude in accuracy CoVID-19 pandemic. But without
and methodology improvements, this share of maritime logistics,
hydrographic surveys have actually who knows how many more
gotten cheaper. businesses and jobs could have
been casualties to the disease.
SURVEY RETURNS
Hydrographic surveys keep the
Now, what does one reap from
oceans safe. Without navigable sea
ocean surveying? Is the return of
lanes and ports, cargo, fare-paying
investment worth it?
passengers, or even WW2 generals
“The road to Tokyo was paved would not have reached their
with Pathfinder charts.” destinations. Time and time again,
the officers, crew, and civilian
(Anon; Ret. Capt. A. Theberge, NOAA,
personnel of the hydrographic
2014)
discipline have, in their own way,
According to Ret. NOAA Capt. contributed to a nation’s resilience
Albert Theberge, coast surveyors amidst adversity.
helped open up commerce and
And that is true value.
maritime safety. But more than
that, to him, the charts produced by
the Coast and Geodetic Survey
were invaluable aids for Gen.
Douglas MacArthur’s campaign in
THE EDITORIAL BOARD
retaking the Philippines and then Presbitero2020OfficerCorps
eventually Japan during World War
2. The information derived from Writers
their surveys were critical in the Hydro318
building and also rebuilding of a
Contributors&Layout
nation.
Hydro345
Today, warships of global
superpowers may still navigate the
Thisisyourshipandweareyourhumblecrew.
seas surrounding the Philippines.
But among them in these times of WEAREYOURPRESBITERO.
relative peace are larger shipping
vessels. The UN estimates that
around 70 percent of global trade
(by value) is carried out by sea. For
*$1 at ₱48.65; 1 sq mile = 2.59 sq km; Inflation Calculator.
U.S. Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 12 Feb. 2021,
url: officialdata.org
 VOL 1 ISSUE 3

ENTERTAINMENT

CROSSWORD
by HydroX06

ACROSS
5. Terminong pangmandaragat para
sa "lubid".
7. Likurang bahagi ng barko.
8. Pagbitaw o paglaro sa daungan.
9. Biglaang pagsama ng panahon sa
dagat.
12. Bahagi ng barko o bangka na
ginagamit sa pagbago ng direksyon ng
takbo nito.
13. Espanyol para sa kaliwang bahagi
ng barko.
14. Lubay o luwag.

DOWN
1. Mababaw na bahagi ng katubigan.
2. Unahang bahagi ng barko.
3. Batak o hila.
4. Istruktura sa gilid ng bangka na
ginagamit sa pagbalanse sa tubig.
SAGOTSATANONG(JAN2020)
6. Espanyol para sa kanang bahagi ng
barko.
10. Pagtabi o pagdikit sa daungan.
11. Tagalog sa "heaving line:

PADAYON!
Here are your top performing
crew for the month of January
2021!
Each of them shall receive
certificates of appreciation and MALIGAYANG
gift check courtesy of Presbitero BATI!
Store!
Ating binabati ng buong
1. Ens Mary Genevieve C Borbon puso ang ating mga
& P/Ens Meliza Audia G Fiesta kasamang nagdiriwang ng
Commissioned Officers kanilang mga kaarawan
ngayong buwan ng
2. PO3 Julio C Salvador Pebrero. Nawa’y maging
Machinery maligaya kayo sa inyong
3. PO3 Alexander Grepo pagdiriwang.
Steward Nawa'y mapasaya mo din
4. SN3 Glenn H Libao kami:
Deck Works & Security SN1 Roberto S Alcaraz
So you also, when you have done all that February 23
CLASSIFIEDS

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