DENR sets sights on illegal fishpens in Parañaque, Las Piñas

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it will clear the east side of Manila Bay, which includes the cities Parañaque and Las Piñas, of illegal fishpens once it is done with the side of the bay bounded by Cavite.

The Cavite side of Manila Bay is now 94 percent free of illegal fishpens, the DENR said, with a total of 241 out of 250 aquaculture structures torn down since the agency launched its clearing operations last Aug. 27 to bring the bay back to its “blue-green state.”

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Hurley Salig told DENR Secretary Lito Atienza that the clearing operation is temporarily on hold to make way for owners of the remaining four fishpens to voluntarily dismantle the structures.

The DENR said that prior to the demolition, a total of 85 illegal fishpens were surveyed in the Cavite side of the bay, as well as 145 fish traps and 21 shanties, which served as guardhouses for the illegal structures.

Atienza cited the cooperation of the provincial government for the success of the clearing operations. He emphasized the significance of close coordination between concerned government agencies, especially the local government units (LGUs), and stakeholders in any environmental endeavor.

“I’ve always maintained that synergy with LGUs is the key to effective environmental governance. We will continue to seek the support of local leaders like Gov. (Ireneo) Maliksi, who has been a fine expression of this synergy. I hope others will follow suit,” he said.

The DENR has allotted 15 days for its officials to complete an inventory of all existing illegal structures in the other parts of the bay, which is bound by Metro Manila on the east, Cavite on the south, Bulacan and Pampanga on the north, and Bataan on the west. – Katherine Adraneda