Duterte: Mid-December demolition of excessive Laguna Lake fish pens

Pia Ranada

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Duterte: Mid-December demolition of excessive Laguna Lake fish pens
President Rodrigo Duterte says he has ordered the military to dismantle the fish pens if owners themselves refuse to 'limit' their area by the second week of December

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte is giving fish pen owners until the second week of December to “limit” their area in Laguna Lake.

If they don’t heed his deadline, the military will dismantle anything seen as detrimental to the welfare of small fishermen, Duterte said in a news conference at the Davao International Airport on Wednesday, November 23.

Addressing fish pen owners, he said: “Limit your area; you can fence it. But you have to give the bigger share to the so many fisherfolk…If you cannot do the job, by the second week of December, I will order the military to destroy it and this time no more arrangement of what will be your area.”

To fish pen owners who wish to comply with his order, he said that they should “make arrangements with [the] DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources).”

The President first gave the directive in his initial State of the Nation Address on July 25. Since then, the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) has been demolishing illegal fishpens.

‘File cases’

The DENR has had to “go slow” with the operation to avoid lawsuits owners could file, citing violation of permits. Thus, the DENR can only begin massive dismantling operations in 2017 when most of the permits expire.

Lawmakers have noted that the use of government forces, including the military, may be needed to clear the structures. Based on his Wednesday directive, Duterte agreed with them.

“Kung ayaw ninyong liitan, sisirain ko (If you don’t want to make it smaller, I will destroy it). So you lose your investments and I don’t care. You can go to the Supreme Court. You can go to the whatever you want, Ombudsman, and file your cases there, but it will be my direct order and I will assume full responsibility for them,” he warned.

The crowding of fish pens in Laguna Lake, the largest inland lake in the country, is a known environmental hazard as it has led to heavy siltation.

Fish pen companies have also reportedly used their security guards to prevent small fisherfolk from freely fishing in the lake.

“In all of those who have fish pens across the country, everywhere you go, you have deprived the man with a paddle and bangka (boat) of their food,” said Duterte.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez previously said she wanted to reduce the number of fish pens in Laguna Lake and turn it into an ecotourism zone. – Rappler.com

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Pia Ranada

Pia Ranada is Rappler’s Community Lead, in charge of linking our journalism with communities for impact.