LLDA to auction fishpen gear

The Laguna Lake Development Authority’s (LLDA) will auction off confiscated fishing materials from demolished fishpens in its drive to decongest Asia’s second largest freshwater basin of .illegal fishpen structures.

LLDA general manager Casimiro Ynares, Jr. said he has directed lake management division chief Jackie Davo to make an inventory of the confiscated materials that are being kept at the LLDA’s Calauan, Laguna office.

The public auction will be open to all including legitimate operators whose structures were devastated or swept away by the typhoons.

Fishpen operators whose permits were cancelled by the LLDA are not qualified to participate.

According to Ynares, numerous calls and messages from the LLDA’s inbox via TXT LLDA program, have been received or registered, inquiring on the agency’s plan for the seized materials. Also, some interested parties have expressed the interest in acquiring them through negotiated bidding.

A disposal committee with the task of formulating the mechanics for the public auction has been formed.

"In our earnest wish to help the legitimate fishpen oerators whose structures were swept away during the height of typhoon Milenyo last September, we have decided to auction the confiscated materials necessary in constructing fishpen structures", Ynares said.

Meanwhile, Ynares reminded the legitimate fishpen operators to secure repair clearance from the LLDA before they could rebuild their fishpens. – Benny Enriquez