Rody to destroy triangle fish pens in Laguna Lake

MANILA, Philippines - The large fish pens in Laguna Lake will have to go to give small-time fisherfolk better opportunities to earn a living.

“Laguna de Bay, whenever I look down there – I am sorry if you have one there – those triangles… you could not see (spaces)… and the fishermen are left with nothing,” President Duterte said during a meeting with members of the Pastoral Parish Council for Responsible Voting in Malacañang on Wednesday.

“And I said: one of these days, I will destroy them. It cannot be that they will be there for all time at the expense of the poor fishermen. I’ve warned them,” the President said.

Members of the militant Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya-Pilipinas) welcomed the move, saying fisherfolk had long waited for “a leader who will address the welfare of small fishers.”

“Large portion of Laguna de Bay has been occupied by big fishing and aquaculture companies for decades,” Roman Antazo, Pamalakaya secretary general, said in a statement.

The group said almost 60 percent of the 94,000-hectare lake had been leased to big fish pen operators by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) through the Fishpond Lease Agreement in violation of the law that only allowed 10 percent of the inland waters to be occupied privately.

“Although the LLDA only allows a maximum of 50 hectares per fish pen operator, some private fishing corporations managed to own more than what is designated by using different dummies in exchange for big taxes and fat commissions,” Antazo stated.

He said the once communal fishing grounds had become “privatized.”

“We have experienced several forms of harassment from the armed fish pens personnel and deprivation (of) our livelihood,” Antazo said.

Pamalakaya tried but failed to get previous administrations to dismantle and refrain from awarding fishpond lease contracts to big fishing corporations and individuals.

Pamalakaya also warned Environment Secretary Gina Lopez against transforming Laguna de Bay into an eco-tourism zone, saying this might dislocate the poor and affect supply of fish in Metro Manila. – With Rhodina Villanueva