LLDA’s campaign against fish pens a sham, mere media projection – Laguna Lakers
Binangonan, Rizal – Local members of the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) in Rizal assail the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) and its General Manager Nerius “Neric” Acosta for its failure to dismantle vast-tracts of fish pens in the 90-thousand hectare Laguna de Bay.
President Duterte and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) have ordered the immediate demolition of wide-corporate fish pens occupying the communal fishing ground of small-fishermen in Laguna de Bay.
“Media projection at tila ningas-kugon lamang ang ginawa ng LLDA nung inorder ni Pangulong Duterte ang pagbubuwag sa mga fish pens at fish cages. Tanda namin ng may dumating na media at pumormang babaklasin ng mga tauhan ng LLDA ang isang malawak na fish pen dito sa Binangonan, pero pag alis ng taga-media, hindi tinuloy baklasin ang fish pen. Katunayan ay nananatili pa rin ang naglalawakang mga fish pen sa amin,” Dennis Ramos, a fisherman from Binangonan, Rizal told Pamalakaya during the local consultation yesterday.
“Problema sa aming maliliit na mangingisda ang mga fish pen na ‘yan. Dahil ang dating bukas at malawak na pangisdaan, ngayon ay masikip at pag-aari na ng iilan,” Ramos lamented.
Pamalakaya, together with its Laguna Lake members will engage LLDA GM Acosta in a dialogue on October 7 regarding the fishermen’s complain on the fish pen proliferation and the ongoing reclamation and dumping of wastes in some parts of Laguna de Bay including Angono, Rizal and Taguig City.
“We challenge GM Acosta to face us, the Laguna Lake fishermen in a dialogue to be held in the DENR with its Secretary Gina Lopez. We want to hear the truth and nothing but the truth on why his agency can’t prevent these destructive activities like reclamation and fish pen proliferation in Laguna de Bay.” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya Chairperson said. ###
