Fishers fear the loss of livelihood on DENR’s order vs fishing structures in Manila Bay

In a statement, the fishers’ group said the regulation is “unjust and anti-fisherfolk” as it would take away the livelihood of around 15, 000 fisherfolks and coastal residents in the affected towns who directly depend on Manila Bay by culturing mussels and oysters. Most of them are employed in aquaculture farms who are engaged in managing, maintaining, and harvesting of cultured shellfish in fish pen structures.

PAMALAKAYA also chided the DENR for reproaching the bamboo poles washed into the shores over the recent monsoon rains, to justify the dismantling order.

“Why make a fuss on the bamboo poles washed along the shore when in the first place, these are not pollutants that can cause damage to the marine ecosystem unlike plastic and other solid wastes? It’s a common sense that disposed bamboos will naturally submerge in water and eventually decompose,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.

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Reforest mangroves, not coconut trees along Manila Bay – fishers to DENR

“Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it is necessary and priority to restore the bay’s ecosystem. Planting of coconut palm trees along the shores reflects the government’s thrust on Manila Bay rehabilitation which is solely based on external beautification, rather than restoration of its marine and fishery resources,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.

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DENR slammed for giving environmental permit to another reclamation in Manila Bay

“The Supreme Court mandamus is crystal clear – to rehabilitate Manila Bay and restore its use for fishery resources development and recreational purpose. Reclamation was never mentioned in the mandamus. The DENR should be made to answer on why it keeps on issuing environmental clearances to destructive reclamation projects,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said.

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DENR urged to reject seabed quarry for reclamation in Manila Bay

“Dredging-related stressors such as movement of solid particles, habitat loss, discharging of toxic contaminants, and noise pollution inflict damage to marine biodiversity. It can cause trauma and even death to fish species that thrive in the bottom of the sea. Consequently, it has a huge impact to the livelihood of small fishers who would endure decrease of fish catch,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.

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Complete termination of the Sangley airport project pushed

PAMALAKAYA said they “welcome” the cancellation of the project, which would be funded by the China Construction & Communications Corporation (CCCC), a Chinese firm engaged in environmental destruction through large-scale reclamation in the South China Sea. Satellite images also showed that a subsidiary of CCCC dredging company operated most of its giant barges digging sand from the seabed and piling it on remote coral atolls in the Panganiban Reef, Zamora Reef, and Kagitingan Reef – all located in the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea.

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