War on Dagupan fish pens back

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines—The city government is resuming the dismantling of fish pens in the city’s rivers after a 15-day grace period granted to some pen owners lapsed two weeks ago.

A task force formed by Mayor Belen Fernandez spared 68 of 957 fish pens in the rivers last year when the owners claimed that they had titles over these areas. They were allowed to voluntarily transfer their pens or to harvest their remaining stock during the grace period.

Task force leader Emma Molina, city agriculturist, has recommended the demolition of the remaining fish pens after meeting with local environment officials.

Ronnie Cayabyab, task force action officer, said the fish pen areas used to be “bangus” (milkfish) ponds that were eroded by floods that struck the city.

Raymundo Gayo, community environment and natural resources officer, had informed the team that the fish pen areas that were spared had become part of the public domain and were subject to state regulation because these are located in the rivers, Cayabyab said.

Under the law, all lands submerged in water automatically become part of the public domain, he said.

The remaining fish pens are located in the rivers that traverse Barangay (village) Lucao, Calmay, Tapuac, Carael, Salapingao and Pugaro. Seven rivers, all emptying into the Lingayen Gulf, crisscross this coastal city.

Upon her assumption last year, Fernandez ordered the dismantling of fish pens, which big-time bangus growers erected from April to May last year.

The city fishery ordinance prohibits the construction and operation of fishing traps, fish pens, fish cages, or oyster beds in the rivers’ prohibited zones.

In October last year, Fernandez launched “Sa Ilog Ko, May Pagbabago,” a livelihood program for poor fisher folk, which allows the use of indigenous fish traps, such as “batikwas” and “skylab” in designated river areas.

The skylab is a trap made of triangular bamboo stakes. The batikwas is a fish net with corners tied to four bamboo posts. It is lowered at night and an incandescent bulb is used to attract the fish. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon