MANILA — Malacañang will stand by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)’s resolution limiting the fish cages and pens from 12,500 to 5,000 hectares of Laguna Lake.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made this comment when asked to comment on the bangus (milkfish) industry stakeholders’ open letter, asking President Rodrigo Duterte to revoke LLDA Resolution 540.
“We standby the decision of the LLDA,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
Roque said the Bangus Industry Stakeholders and Dealers Alliance has no basis to call for revocation of LLDA’s resolution.
“Ang dapat ngang mangyari diyan, tanggalin na silang lahat eh dahil kinakailangan po talagang pangalagaan ang Laguna Lake (What we should do actually is to remove all them because we really need to protect Laguna Lake),” he added.
Roque also voiced support his former colleague in Congress, Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atenza, who called for the dismantling of fish pens and illegal structures that occupied nearly 70 percent of Laguna Lake.
“Ang dapat pa nga sigurong mangyari (What actually we should do) is to have further restrictions to give the lake an opportunity to recover,” Roque said.
President Duterte has called for dismantling of the giant fish cages and pens, which are depriving poor fishermen of their livelihood. (Jelly Musico/PNA)
