Name and Location

The Escarceo Point Lighthouse, also known locally as the Escarceo Lighthouse, is located in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines. Its official coordinates are 13°31′17.0″ N, 120°59′31.7″ E, and it can be found at Plus code GXCR+JW.

Construction and History

The Escarceo Point Lighthouse was first lit on April 25, 1994, built to improve navigation into Puerto Galera bay in the late 20th century. The lighthouse is managed by the Philippine Coast Guard, Calapan Station (PCG reference STL-041), with an international NGA reference of F 2560.

Architecture and Materials

The tower material is prefabricated aluminum, and its structure is a slender, tapered cylindrical tower mounted directly on a concrete footing. The color scheme is unpainted aluminum with a contrasting white lantern housing, standing at approximately 41 meters tall.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is flashing white every 10 seconds (Fl 10s), with a range of 18 nautical miles. It is visible from bearing 112° through 360° to 20° (white sector). The focal plane is 41 meters above the base, and the lighthouse is fully automated and unmanned.

Accessibility and Visiting

The site can be reached by a short footpath off the coastal road in Sinandigan barangay. While the tower itself is fenced and not open for interior visits, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Puerto Galera bay, nearby islets, and frequent pleasure craft and fishing boats.

Notable Views and Landscape

From its vantage point, visitors can take in the Verde Island Passage, a biodiversity hotspot adjoining Puerto Galera. The surrounding terrain is rocky, with low vegetation and coconut groves nearby.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local fishermen report that the light serves as a landmark for nighttime returns to shore, and no major shipwrecks have been recorded in the immediate vicinity since its commissioning.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is still active on Philippine nautical charts (PCG STL-041; NGA F 2560) and has no known transponder or radar installation at the site. Its primary purpose is to mark the eastern entrance to Puerto Galera harbor.

Further Information

For more information, refer to the Philippine Coast Guard Lighthouse Master List (2019), U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Pub. 112 “List of Lights, Radio Aids and Fog Signals” (2009), OpenStreetMap node 206258158 (Escarceo Point Lighthouse), and the Wikipedia article on “Lighthouses in the Philippines”.