SIGNIFICANT CHARACTERISTICS

OF THE OPERATIONAL

ENVIRONMENT

PMESII

Annexed to the province of Cagayan under the extended provisions of Provincial Govt Act of 1901.

Sta Cruz is the capital town.

Internationally recognized as an island province of Cagayan.

POLITICAL

Lacuha Island

Gasan

• 6 Municipalities:• Mogpog, Sta Cruz, Boac, Gasan, Buenavista, and Torrijos.

• Municipalities headed by Mayor.

• Province by Governor – holds office in Tuguegarao.

• 2 Congressional Districts

POLITICAL

• Major Political Parties: Nationalista Party Liberal Party Lakas-NUCD Kampi Partido ng Masang Pil Kilusang Bagong Lipunan

POLITICAL

Lacuha Island

Gasan

Philippine President US President – an ally, with an existing Mutual Defense Treaty with the GPH that obligates the US to provide assistance to PH in the event of a threat to its national sovereignty.

- expresses support to the diplomatic and peaceful resolution of the territorial dispute. SRN President Marurinii Antonio de Lopez – declared his resolute intention in international circles to annex Lacuha Island citing tenuous historical claims. United Nations - helps resolve Phil-SRN conflict on territorial claims. May intervene and condemn SRN actions or intentions to seize and occupy LI or any part of Phil. Regional Assn – May also intervene and condemn SRN actions and intentions.

POLITICAL – Leaders and Organisations

NOLCOM:

5ID7IDNTF 933rd Tactical Air GroupJSOG

Povincial Public Safety Coy – Police Unit with heavier wpns than regular police (Sta Cruz). Approx: 350 PNP officers

MILITARY – FRIENDLY

LACUHA ISLAND

JTF-NCR (Rapid Reaction Force)

1 Inf Bn (Airmobile ops capable)1 Mech Inf Bn1 Marine Bn (Amphibious Ops capable)1 Squadron Tactical Helis1 Squadron CAS A/cft1 Heavy Airlift A/cft1 Strategic Sealift Vessel

MILITARY – FRIENDLY

LACUHA ISLAND

West Nuvarian Fleet

7th Air Force Group

2nd Naval Inf Bde

Nuvarian SPF

MILITARY – ADVERSARY

Capable of deploying an initial lodgement force by sea and air of a reinforced Inf Bn task group in any part of the Phil the Northern seaboard.

Deployment to be supported by aircraft and naval vessels.

Any invasion will be preceded by Nuvarian naval and air ops to isolate Lacuha Is. and establish favourable air and sea situation over the area.

NUV Airborne regiment has been conducting comprehensive night time parachute exercises in Devora Is.

Stockpiling supplies sighted at full load at Fleet base Kailua Kona in the West Nuvarian Fleet Vessels.

MILITARY – ADVERSARY

• Agriculture (48% employment). Coconut is primary crop. Next is rice, corn, banana, vegetables, root crops, coffee, cacao, legumes (mongo and peanut)• Poultry and livestock as secondary source of family income (chicken, hogs, cattle, goats and carabaos)• Fishing activities active in Mogpog, Sta. Cruz, Torrijos, and Buenavista. (14,577 fisher folks, 1,054 motorized bancas, ad 74 commercial fishing boats.• Taklubu Reef (50 miles NE of Lacuha Is) a tourist dive site and rich fishing ground.• Potential oil and gas reserves in south basin 90 miles south of island.

ECONOMIC

• Composition of Tribes:

70% Ivatans 20% Ilongots 10% Ibanags

• SRN asserts that more than half the population are of Nuvarian descent.• Multinational companies are not present.• High unemployment rate 11.8% in 2005.• Population below poverty level: 44.8% (2008)

SOCIAL

Lacuha Island

Gasan

• 1 APOD – Class II Direction: 16/34 Length: 1,400 m / 4,593 ft Width: 30 m Surface: Asphalt• Level II system (Piped Water w/ communal water point in town areas• Level I (Stand Alone Water Points (Hand Pumps, Wells) in Rural areas.• Power System – 14.35 MW w/ ave capacity of 200 KW. All units diesel powered.•

Masiga Airport

INFRASTRUCTURE

Tapian Airport

Cawit Port

Buyabod Port

Balanacan Port

• 6 SPODs• Buyabod:Berthing Area/s: A 70 meter long by 9m. Wide L type RC pier connected to a 472.12 meter longrock causeway and one (1) 11.00m x 9.00m ramp.Draft: Four (4) meters alongside and at either end.Anchorage: A 16.5 meter depth of soft mud bottom located at the south tangent off Polo Island bearing 91°.

INFRASTRUCTURE

Cawit Port

Buyabod Port

Balanacan Port

• 6 SPODs• Balanacan:

Berthing Area/s: Two (2) RORO Ramps – 11.00m x 9.00mR.C. Wharf – 83 Ln.m.Draft: Two (2) RORO Ramps – 9.00m deepR.C. Wharf – 9.00m deep

INFRASTRUCTURE

Cawit Port

Buyabod Port

Balanacan Port

• 6 SPODs• Cawit:

Berthing Area/s: An approximately 70 meters reinforced concrete deck supported by concretepiles provided with bitts and fenders. At either and are two (2) 12.00m x 7.00mRORO ramps.Draft: 9-11 meters below MLLW.Anchorage: A vessel can safely anchor at any point off the berths as depth of berths at MLLW is 5meters.

INFRASTRUCTURE

• Provincial Hospital in BOAC 100-bed capacity

• Sta Cruz District Hospital 25-bed capacity

• Torrijos Municipal Hospital 10-bed capacity

INFRASTRUCTURE – HEALTH

Lacuha Island

BOJP

INFRASTRUCTURE – PRISON

120km circumferential road

98 percent of the road network may be considered as all-weather road and nearly 100 percent are well-paved.

MSR

• Globe and Smart• With domestic and international linkages.

INFORMATION

LEGEND:

- HIGH- MED- LOW

• Type III – rainfalls evenly distributed throughout the year.

• Mar-May – favourable for sea travel.

GEO HAZARD – FLOODING

LEGEND:

- HIGH- MED- LOW

GEO HAZARD – LANDSLIDE

1. Adversary1.1 What is the likely start date of the proposed NAF EX?1.2 What specific Vital Installations (VI) are the Nuvarians likely to target?1.3 When will the Nuvarians target these assets?1.4 Will the Nuvarians target VI on the mainland?1.5 What is the current NTM of the Nuvarian Naval Infantry Units?1.6 What NAF assets have been stockpiled at Fleet base Kailua Kona?

INITIAL PIRs

2. Operational Environment2.1 What are the expected weather conditions during the next month? 2.2 What is the likely reaction of Lacuhan locals to any AFP element arriving in Lacuha?2.3 Are any political parties/organisations/entities in Lacuha pro-Nuvarian?2.4 What size military force can Lacuha accommodate?2.5 Who are the key PNP and PPSC points of contact in Lacuha?2.6 What are the exact locations of the coral reefs in vicinity of Lacuha?

INITIAL PIRs