THE Municipal Government of Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur has donated a high-speed motorboat to boost the coastal security operations of the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB) in the province.

The 1st Infantry Division announced that the triple-engine boat was formally turned over Thursday, December 10, by Vicenzo Sagun Mayor Merlinda Maata to Lieutenant Colonel Jo-ar Herrera, 53IB commander, at the town's Liangan Port.

The donation of the triple-engine boat is in line with Vicenzo Sagun's continuous and relentless support to coastal security operations conducted by the 53IB along the coastal municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur.

The 1st Infantry Division said the new triple-engine boat will help sustain the 53IB's efforts in Development Support and Security Operations (DSSO) in its area of responsibility.

The Army Division said it will significantly enhance the coastal security posture along the coastal municipalities of Zamboanga del Sur province.

It said the coastal security operations will prevent pirates and criminal groups from conducting atrocities and extortion activities targeting innocent civilians.

The donation of the speed boat is also to support the conduct of Law Enforcement and Support Operations (Leso) in the territorial waters of the province.

Vincenzo Sagun is one of the coastal municipalities in Zamboanga del Sur. It is a fifth-class town comprising of 14 barangay with 23,759 population of the 2015 census. (SunStar Zamboanga)