Dagupan rivers now free of illegal fish pens

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines  – About 172 illegal fish structures, mostly fish pens that blocked waterways along the river system here, had been dismantled by a demolition team tasked by the mayor as part of the massive river cleanup.

In October when the demolition started, 154 fish pens and 18 other fish cages like skylab, poquet or patikwas and shorewin were dismantled.

For November, the team has dismantled 11 more fish pens, three skylabs and one talabahan (oyster farm) in Barangay Lucao. 

Executive Assistant Butch Gutierrez said those who will be displaced because of the dismantling of these illegal fish structures would be assisted by the city government through the office of Mayor Benjamin Lim by giving them alternative livelihood program. 

He said this is to answer their needs while a one-year moratorium in the operation of fish pens and other fish structures is in effect to enable the river system to rehabilitate. 

He said the plan is at least four types of livelihood programs will be introduced for those who depend on fishing as their means of livelihood. 

Meanwhile, City Agriculturist Emma Molina said more fish pen owners are now voluntarily dismantling their structures along the city’s river system compared to the first month when they started their campaign against all illegal structures in the rivers. 

rail of devastation here.