The 118-ft (36.0-m) tall structure was an iron skeletal tower with a central cylinder, reinforced by a hexagonal frame and topped with the lantern room with two levels of gallery.

[4] It was proposed to erect a steel tower with a third-order[broken anchor] light on Bajo Apo Island.

In 1896, the tower and the lighting apparatus were already purchased complete by the Spanish authorities from France, and they were delivered and stored at the warehouse in Manila.

As none is found on the island or in the immediate vicinity, water for drinking purposes had to be supplied from Manila, Romblon province or the adjacent coast of Mindoro.

About the first of August, the sloop Jervey was sent to the station for this purpose, but on account of the dangerous anchorage, it was later transferred to Maniguin Island where lighthouse construction was simultaneously going on.

At the end of the year, they had practically completed the tower and buildings, except for the execution of some unimportant details and the lighting apparatus, which could not be installed for some months, as it was necessary to make several missing parts.