Atienza bares 'plot' to stall demolition of fish pens

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza is smelling something fishy, as his agency’s program to rid Laguna Lake and Manila Bay of fish pens and other illegal structures is encountering an unwelcome delay.

Atienza revealed what he thinks is a “plot” supposedly by officials of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and “some politicians” to thwart moves by his agency to demolish fish pens and other illegal structures in the two vital bodies of water.

He said there are “heightened efforts” to stop the demolition by some government officials and politicians who he refused to identify at the moment.

“Officials of the LLDA and some politicians have heightened their bureaucratic maneuvers and backroom pressure calculated to allow the continuous proliferation, if not expansion, of fish pens in Laguna Lake and Manila Bay,” he said.

Atienza admitted that fish pen owners have “tremendous clout and a lot of resources” that could be used against the DENR’s legal mandate to protect the environment.

After a substantial portion of the Cavite side of Manila Bay was cleared of fish pens a few months ago, Atienza said other structures proliferated in the Parañaque area, and lobbying against the demolition also intensified.

Atienza criticized the LLDA’s “reluctance” to complete its job to clear the 92,000-hectare Laguna Lake of fish pens and other illegal structures, as it argued that the LLDA charter gives it “exclusive jurisdiction” over the fish pens.

Earlier, Atienza assailed LLDA general manager Edgardo Manda for “resisting” the cleanup of Laguna Lake, even accusing the LLDA of “deliberately stalling” the demolition effort.

Atienza also scored the “open defiance” of the LLDA to his plan for a massive and systematic dismantling of illegal fish pens, which have been blamed for the rapid deterioration of the country’s largest inland freshwater lake.

Moreover, Atienza accused Manda of “double talk” for claiming to be taking action to clear Laguna Lake, adding that the LLDA’s move has remained “too slow.” 

“The President has already transferred the control and supervision of Laguna Lake to the DENR. This means that the LLDA should follow our direction,” he said.

Atienza said the harm done by chemical residues from fish feeds in bodies of water is incalculably devastating, as they pollute the environment and affect the health and welfare of millions of people. 

Apart from Manila Bay and Laguna Lake, Atienza said other bodies of water in the country that have also deteriorated due to fish pens are Taal Lake in Batangas; Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur; Sampaloc Lake in San Pablo City, Laguna; and Lake Buhi in Camarines Sur.

He said the government cannot allow the further degradation of these bodies of water, and that the DENR must assert its mandate to protect the environment.

“Their pleas, machinations or threats will not deter or stop us from carrying out our task of cleaning up major waterways in and around Metro Manila,” Atienza said.

“The matter of whether or not Laguna Lake should be cleared of illegal structures is a non-negotiable issue as far as the DENR and the environment are concerned,” he said.

“We are convinced about the tremendous economic, social, aesthetic and health benefits that a clean Laguna Lake or Manila Bay would bring. We want the full potentials of the bodies of water realized,” he added.