October 12, 2006

Philippines' Laguna Lake cracks down on illegal fishpens

Asia's second largest freshwater basin is now free from illegal fishpens as the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) completes its drive to transform Laguna de Bay into a communal fishing ground.

The Philippine Star reports LLDA has already completed its mission to demolish structures that are found to be outside in the designated fishpen belt in Laguna Lake, particularly those in the fishery areas of Taguig and Muntinlupa in Metro Manila.

Casimiro Ynares III, general manager of the LLDA Task force (which includes National Anti-Environmental Crimes Task Force and the Philippine Coast Guard) said owners of illegal fishpens have also been cooperative and opted to self-demolish their structures.

Records of the LLDA lake management division show that 133 illegally built structures covering 286 hectares have been torn down. Ynares said that some of these structures are owned by influential corporations.

Ynares said earlier that he felt a "little pressure" as some of these big names lobbied for their exclusion from the demolition list but President Arroyo has stood firm on her resolve to gradually transform Laguna de Bay into a communal multi-faceted use freshwater basin.

The LLDA general manager said the clearing of the lake of illegally built structures underwent "due process," with the operators of the illegal fishpens being notified and served sufficient notice as early as 2004.

The LLDA spent a little over a million for the 30-day demolition period.

Ynares said the fishpen and cages have caused stress and pollution and affected the lake's natural marine ecology and natural cleansing ability.