MANILA - The Philippines will install at least 13 lighthouses across its northernmost islands, its national security chief said Wednesday.

National Security Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon made the announcement after a site inspection at the northern Fuga Island 2 weeks ago.

Esperon said the lighthouses could amount to P20 million each.

“Guide 'yan sa navigation. It’s for safety of life at sea,” he said. “There’s also a very benign but very profound significance…it’s yours.”

This is the same logic behind the raising of the Philippine flag and construction of a fishermen’s shelter at Mavulis, the northernmost island.

• Fishermen's shelter itinayo sa Mavulis Island

While it provided aid to local fishermen, the shelter was a symbolic gesture of claiming the island for the Philippines.

Aside from a lighthouse, government also said it has more plans for Fuga Island, a strategically located island up north where Chinese businessmen were recently granted permission to turn it into a “Smart City,” or an electronic hub.

Esperon said the Smart City plans will be reviewed first.

“Yung plano nila is just a plan, so kung meron silang plano then we will look at it,” said Esperon. “They can always have their plans but we might put up a detachment there.”

• Gov't eyes naval station in Fuga Island amid China 'smart city' plan