Laguna lake fishermen blame LLDA for low income

Fishermen in Laguna de Bay accused yesterday the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) of causing their income to drop after announcing that fish caught in the lake are contaminated with chemical waste.

Hundreds of fishermen belonging to the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) and the Save Laguna Lake Movement (SLLM) picketed the LLDA office in Pasig City yesterday.

Fernando Hicap of Pamalakaya and SLLM coordinator Roman Antazo said consumers are now shying away from tilapia and milkfish caught in the lake.

“Based on reports of fishermen, consumers are shying away from buying fish that came from the lake because of GM Manda’s claim that their catch are contaminated by chemicals deriving from garbage waste,” they said.

There should be no reclamation or demolition of fishermen in Laguna de Bay to preserve the fishing industry in the area, Hicap said.

LLDA general manager Edgardo Manda invited the rally leaders to his office, where he explained the agency’s effort to uplift the present condition of the lake.

“LLDA is against reclamation and that the road widening report ‘is just a dream,” he said.

Manda said the agency will retain the lake’s legal fishpens.

“The mandate allows 10 percent of the total lake surface to aquaculture or fishpen industry which is equivalent to 900 sq. km. The lake’s surface area is 90,000 hectares,” he said.  – Non Alquitran