31 fish cages near power plant ordered closed by EMB

DAGUPAN CITY—The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in the Ilocos region has stopped the operations of 31 fish cage owners in Sual town in Pangasinan province for lack of environmental compliance certificates (ECC).

Joel Salvador, EMB Ilocos director, however, said his office had served copies of the cease and desist order to eight operators. Copies for the remaining 23 operators would be sent by mail, he said.

The orders dated Oct. 9 told the fish cage owners to remove their cages until they have obtained the ECCs.

They were also directed to explain why criminal charges should not be filed against them. Salvador said the fish cage owners would be fined P50,000 each.

Fish cage owners, who had received the orders, promised to comply with these.

The operator of the Sual coal-fired power plant had complained that the fish cages imperiled the facility because these were too close to the plant’s buffer zone.

Nestor Domenden, Ilocos director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, said the fish cage operators would not be allowed to harvest their stocks until they are able to secure an ECC. Yolanda Sotelo, Inquirer Northern Luzon