Removal of Laguna Lake fish pens sought

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) have been urged to immediately dismantle fish pens in the Laguna de Bay.

“These fish pens not only deprive the small fisher folk of their livelihood but cause massive flooding in Metro Manila and Southern Tagalog,” Rep. Lito Atienza of party-list group Buhay said.

Atienza said the DENR and LLDA should immediately carry out President Duterte’s order to remove all obstructive structures in Laguna de Bay.

He said Duterte issued the directive several months ago, but it has apparently fallen on deaf ears.

“The Laguna Lake has deteriorated because of the proliferation of fish pens owned by big businessmen, retired generals and even foreigners,” Atienza said.

He accused the DENR and LLDA of not giving an accurate picture of the problem.  

Citing records of the two agencies, Atienza said fish pens occupy only 12,000 hectares of Laguna de Bay, or about 12 percent of its total area of 99,000 hectares.

“The truth is over 60 percent is occupied by the fish pens, leaving only a fraction of open water for thousands of fisherfolk and obstructing the free flow of water,” he said.