Thitu Island light

1976(?). Active; focal plane unknown; white flash every 5 s. Approx. 25 m (82 ft) square cylindrical white concrete skeletal tower with a roofed gallery; the light appears to be mounted atop the roof. This tower serves as an observation tower at the military airstrip built on the island in 1976 by the Phillipines Air Force. Thitu is the second largest of the Spratlys and is the principal base for the Philippines in the archipelago. A permanent population of about 200 has settled on the island, forming a community called Kalayaan. In 2007 the air force announced plans to rehabilitate the airstrip with an eye to encouraging development of the island as a beach resort.