Thursday, April 24, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
As the campaign to revive Laguna Lake began with yesterday’s demolition of illegal fishpens by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza is now going after towns with dumps located near the lake.
Atienza sent a stern warning yesterday to the municipal officials of Angono, Rizal to immediately close a dump near Laguna Lake.
Atienza reiterated his vow to “rescue” Laguna Lake from what is feared to be its “biological death” in five years due to massive and protracted pollution.
“The DENR is fully committed to reviving Laguna Lake. In fact, we started this morning the demolition of illegal fishpens that impede the free flow of water. Now, our next target would be the illegal dumps along the banks of the lake, which also greatly contribute to the degradation of the lake’s water quality,” he said.
Atienza said his office will send today a formal letter to the Angono municipal government to make his warning official.
Aside from Angono, the LLDA, an attached agency of the DENR, said three other towns have dumps near the lake – Paete and Biñan, both in Laguna, and Taytay in Rizal. – Katherine Adraneda
_____________________________________________________________________
