Some mussel and oyster farmers from Cavite picketed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) headquarters in Quezon City on Monday (Sept. 6) to oppose the dismantling order of illegal fish pens installed in Manila Bay.
At least 15,000 fisherfolks and coastal residents who are engaged in mussel and oyster aquaculture will lose their livelihood once the the demolition starts tomorrow (Sept. 7), the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) said in a statement.
According to the PAMALAKAYA, there may be a decrease in the supply of mussels in Metro Manila, as the majority of its source comes from Cavite, specifically from Cavite City, Kawit, Bacoor, and Noveleta City.
Meanwhile, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones earlier said that the demolition of the aquaculture structures will continue despite the protests.
“Kailangan na nating i-dismantle ang illegal structures. This is the only way [to] stop iyong mga bamboos na nasisira kapag umuulan at [napupunta] sa Manila Bay,” Leones said.
“Alam nating nagkaroon ng pandemic, pero talaga namang dahil nga in bad faith sila doon, nag-structure sila, wala naman silang permit. Hindi naman tayo papayag na ganoon… We are serious in rehabilitating the whole Manila Bay,” he added.
Leones clarified that only those fish pens, fish cages, stationary lift nets, fish corrals, and mussel farms without proper permits from the local government units and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will be demolished.
BFAR Undersecretary Ching Caballero told PTV on Monday that mussel supply can be alarming, but food safety must remain on top of its priorities.
“It is alarming, but ‘yung food safety should also [have] to be considered. We are also developing other production areas and using improved technologies especially where water is clean and safe for tahong production,” Caballero said.
– Report from Cleizl Pardilla / CF -rir
