Saturday, August 09, 2008 [ manilatimes.net ]
DESPITE receiving criticisms over his decision to raid fish pens that are deemed as “illegal,” Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) General Manager Ed Manda remains undaunted as he led intensified demolition efforts in Binangonan, Rizal on Friday.
Earlier, Binangonan Mayor Boyet Ynares assailed the LLDA’s alleged selective approach in demolishing illegal fish pen structures. He cried foul on Friday over accusations of the LLDA that tended to portray him as a “goon” threatening the agency.
In a telephone interview, Ynares claimed that he did not threaten the LLDA, saying that he was “simply asking for some courtesy” from the agency. “All that I want is some courtesy. Hindi naman siguro kalabisan na makipag-coordinate sila sa amin,” he said.
Ynares took special notice of what he described as the LLDA’s failure to “at least inform the local government as a matter of courtesy” of whatever they have to do within their territorial jurisdiction.
Ynares made the reaction after some 20 hectares of illegal fish pens and fish cages located off Talim Island in Binangonan, were torn down by the LLDA demolition team led by Manda, as part of the agency’s second round of scheduled demolitions.
Manda admitted that the demolition is not an easy job for LLDA.
“We are just implementing this according to our mandate despite. The lake is too crowded and some structures exist illegally. Only 10 percent of the lake’s 90,000-hectare surface must be dedicated to fish pens and other fishing structures. As of now, these structures are covering more than 20 percent of the total area,” Manda noted.
Manda said actual inventory of fish pens and fish cages (legal and illegal) in the Bay have reached 20,000 hectares. LLDA allots 10 percent of the 90,000-hectare lake to commercial fish structures.
Manda said that in the face of these threats, he affirmed that the demolition would be implemented. “We are not belittling the threats but we cannot give in to harassments.”
He firmly stood by the mandate to keep the lake as a multi-use resource area that will serve the most number of people who are dependent on it, directly and indirectly. “We cannot afford to delay this activity as we are in the forefront of making the lake available for use as a source for domestic water in the very near future.”
The second wave of demolition started August 1 when 20 hectares of illegal fish structures, including those owned by Kinagatan Barangay Captain Michael Villarina, were demolished. Already, 26.99 hectares comprising 11 fish pens and fish cages were demolished by its owners upon seeing the LLDA demolition team in an effort to salvage their catch and investments.--Francis Earl A. Cueto and James Konstantin Galvez
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