Demolition of illegal fishpens in Laguna de Bay begins

A 103-hectare portion of Laguna de Bay was cleared yesterday of illegal structures by combined elements of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

LLDA general manager Jun Ynares III said they are right on target on their aim of zero illegal structures in the lake.

Ynares said the LLDA and the National Anti-Environmental Crime Task Force (NAECTF) of the DENR focused yesterday on Laguna, Rizal and the cities of Taguig and Muntinlupa.

"The lake needs a breather now. It has long been stressed due to human intervention and activities," said Ynares, adding that the demolition of illegal fishpens and fishcages is long overdue.

The LLDA and the DENR pushed through with the demolition despite efforts by several influential personalities to extend the deadline given the owners to voluntarily demolish their illegal structures. The six-month deadline lapsed last Thursday.

The LLDA allotted a P1.1-million budget for demolition purposes.

"The socio-economic plight of a few cannot be considered on top of the interests of a much larger number of those depending on the lake," said Ynares.

He said the zoning and management plan for Laguna de Bay sets the maximum carrying capacity of the lake up to 10,000 hectares for fishpens. It also delineates navigational lanes and assigns areas for open fishing.

Ynares said the joint LLDA-DENR demolition teams are going after about 164 hectares of illegal fishpens and 115 hectares of fishcages in the next three weeks.

With the dismantling of the illegal structures, he said more fishermen would benefit from the lake. — Non Alquitran, Katherine Adraneda