TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite -- Around 70 illegal fishpens with an aggregate area of 2,081.79 hectares were demolished from the total 3,700 hectares of illegal fishpens in Laguna de Bay (Laguna Lake).
The demolition also covered structures in excess areas in the towns of Cardona and Binangonan in Rizal, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Biñan, as well as San Pedro and Calamba in Laguna.
In a report released Tuesday, the Regional Development Council IV-A (Calabarzon) said the figure as of Aug. 31 represents Laguna Lake Development Authority's actions to achieve “Zero Fish Pen and Fish Cage Policy implementation in Calabarzon.”
The move is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to transform Laguna Lake into a vibrant economic zone as expressed in his first State-of-the Nation Address in 2016.
The President tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to save the lake, thereby authorizing LLDA to implement regulations to manage the lake and remove illegal structures.
Upon approval of Board Resolution No. 518 in February this year, the LLDA has declared a moratorium on the operation of aquaculture structures within the Laguna de Bay.
The moratorium prohibits release of new fish pen and fish cage permits and stocking of fingerlings or small fishes in the lake after 31 December 2016. In addition, all operators are expected to harvest their fish stocks and demolish their structures before March 31, 2017.
Non-compliance by the operators thereafter has prompted the LLDA to demolish and confiscate their structures. The agency’s current ‘demolition mode’ targets the remaining 44 percent of the illegal aquacultures and fishpens in Laguna Lake.
According to the resolution, the demolition of illegal structures shall go after those with no permits and thus deemed illegal and those that obstruct navigational lanes.
The demolition also covered structures in excess areas in the towns of Cardona and Binangonan in Rizal, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Biñan, as well as San Pedro and Calamba in Laguna.
In a report released Tuesday, the Regional Development Council IV-A (Calabarzon) said the figure as of Aug. 31 represents Laguna Lake Development Authority's actions to achieve “Zero Fish Pen and Fish Cage Policy implementation in Calabarzon.”
The move is in response to President Rodrigo Duterte’s plan to transform Laguna Lake into a vibrant economic zone as expressed in his first State-of-the Nation Address in 2016.
The President tasked the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to save the lake, thereby authorizing LLDA to implement regulations to manage the lake and remove illegal structures.
Upon approval of Board Resolution No. 518 in February this year, the LLDA has declared a moratorium on the operation of aquaculture structures within the Laguna de Bay.
The moratorium prohibits release of new fish pen and fish cage permits and stocking of fingerlings or small fishes in the lake after 31 December 2016. In addition, all operators are expected to harvest their fish stocks and demolish their structures before March 31, 2017.
Non-compliance by the operators thereafter has prompted the LLDA to demolish and confiscate their structures. The agency’s current ‘demolition mode’ targets the remaining 44 percent of the illegal aquacultures and fishpens in Laguna Lake.
According to the resolution, the demolition of illegal structures shall go after those with no permits and thus deemed illegal and those that obstruct navigational lanes.
LLDA said their next targets are the operators who are delinquent in payment and those with arrears as well as operators with excess area.
The LLDA also conferred with local experts and national scientists in assessing the new carrying capacity of the lake for aquaculture in May this year.
It was also determined during the meeting that 60 percent of the lake shall be allotted to fishermen and 40 percent shall be allotted for businessmen. (PNA)
The LLDA also conferred with local experts and national scientists in assessing the new carrying capacity of the lake for aquaculture in May this year.
It was also determined during the meeting that 60 percent of the lake shall be allotted to fishermen and 40 percent shall be allotted for businessmen. (PNA)
