Illegal Muntinlupa fishpens dismantled

Sixty-nine fishpens illegally built in the rivers of Muntinlupa City were dismantled by the local police and representatives of concerned agencies last Thursday.

Police operatives led by City police chief Superintendent Jose Mario Espino were accompanied by agents of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Maritime Group, the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard in the demolition activity.

The operation zeroed in on 69 illegal fishpens in the waters crossing Barangays Alabang, Bayanan, Sucat, Buli, Cupang and Putatan, which form part of Laguna de Bay.

Apart from Muntinlupa policemen, Espino said the SWAT team from the Taguig police station helped tear down the structures.

The demolition is part of the third phase of the operations being conducted by the Philippine National Police (PNP), the LLDA and DENR against fish- pens operating without permits.

"These fishpens are deemed detrimental to the lake as they deplete fish supplies and upset the ecological balance of Laguna de Bay," Espino said.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi expressed support for the operations, saying that these efforts are necessary to revive and sustain the lake.

He added that the local government is in fact, strengthening its programs to increase productivity in the lake such as its quarterly lake-seeding project and the adoption of proper wastewater treatment in the area.

The Muntinlupa City Council, meanwhile, through Ordinance 05-054, gave city residents priority in managing authorized fishpens in Laguna de Bay.

It also ordered outsiders operating in the area to first secure a permit from the local government before conducting any fishing activity in the lake.