Tuesday, August 5, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
Despite the lack of coordination complaint lodged by a town mayor in Rizal province, the Laguna Lake Development Authority will continue conducting demolition drive against illegal fish cages and structures at the Laguna Bay to clear navigational lanes of obstructions.
LLDA general manager Edgardo Manda said he already informed Binangonan Mayor Cecilio Ynares through a letter informing him of the resumption of the demolition of illegal fishpens and fish cages in his town today.
Manda hinted he had no choice but to proceed with the demolition because they are only carrying out the marching orders of Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.
The LLDA, augmented by elements of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) demolished on Friday some 20 hectares of fishpens in Binangonan, the second wave of demolition against illegal fishpen operators at the Laguna Bay.
The LLDA, Manda said, has served notices for fishpond owners since May for the dismantling of their fishpens and fish cages.
“We are not remiss in our duties particularly in the conduct of massive information drive. We used the tri-media in announcing the impending dismantling of illegal structures blocking thousands of navigational lanes in Laguna de Bay,” Manda said.
He said that as much as possible the LLDA is observing the democratic approach in conducting the activity and that “we are very fair.”
Informed that a number of cages they have already demolished are being reconstructed by its owner, Manda said that today’s demolition will proceed to clear the area of the illegal structures.
Over the weekend, Ynares lamented the lack of coordination with his office before the demolition started on Friday and Saturday.
The mayor, the uncle of former LLDA general manager and now Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares lll said he wrote Manda a letter asking him to allow fishpens operators to harvest their fish first before proceeding with the demolition.
However, Ynares was surprised when informed by his barangay chairmen, particularly barangay Kinagatan Chairman Michael Villarin, who is also a fishpen owner, that the LLDA has started to dismantle the structures located in Talim Island west of Binangonan area.
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