DEMOLITION OF FISH CAGES IN SUBIC BAY LOOMS
The Environmental Management Bureau Regional Director for Central Luzon Lormelyn Caludio orders the demolition of the remaining fish cages in Subic Bay on January 10, 2006 while requesting the assistance of the Philippine National Police - Maritime Office, the Philippine National Police - Subic Office and the Philippine Coast Guard – Subic Station.
The day before the meeting of vice governor Lacbain and Director Claudio, the members and supporters of clustered multi-partite monitoring team of DENR-EMB and the Subic Bay Resorts Association (SUBRA) during their regular monthly meeting at White rock Resort Hotel in Subic, Zambales was unanimous in asking Director Claudio to immediately cause the demolition of all remaining fish cages in Subic Bay.
The clustered multi-partite monitoring team of Subic Bay Resorts Association (SUBRA) and DENR-EMB has been in the forefront of protecting Subic Bay which is part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone identified as a tourist destination because of its many beaches, resorts, forests, clean water and good peace and order situation.
SUBRA is headed by Olongapo City councilor and Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president Carlito Baloy, Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) chairman George Lorenzana and Zambales vice governor Ramon Lacbain II while its members come from different socio-civic organizations, government agencies both local and national and business leaders.
This decision of Director Claudio was arrived at after a consultation meeting with Zambales vice governor Ramon Lacbain II yesterday afternoon in her office in Pampanga that was also attended by leaders of fisherfolks organizations, ICAG representatives and PNP Maritime officials.
During the discussion, vice governor Lacbain presented a letter from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Remedios Ongtangco attesting that the 22 hectares within Subic municipal water where the fish cages are currently being operated is not a demarcated area which is in violation of section 22 of Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act 8550).
The result of water quality and underwater assessment conducted by BFAR last January 27, 2006 at barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales also reveals that there are now .08 – 1.3 meters of silt deposits under the water occupied by fish cages that come from feeds and discharge of fishes.
“I appeal to DENR-EMB to have the will to implement the cease and desists orders that you issued to fish cage operators in Subic last August 29, 2006. It’s been more than four months ago but there are still more fish cages operating within Subic Bay without environmental compliance certificates and within an area not demarcated by BFAR.
For the sake of the fisher folks who were denied their rights of access to about 22 hectares awarded to about 10 fish cage operators by virtue of Sangguniang Bayan of Subic resolutions, for the sake of the environment and for the sake of tourism in Subic Bay, these fish cages must be demolished as soon as possible” Lacbain asked Director Claudio during the meeting.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Subic through series of resolutions since 2001 and in succeeding years awarded 5 has. to SAKA Agri Ventures, 3 has. to Biotop Phil. Agriculture, 5 has. to Danilo Javier and Manuel Sy Ko, 3 has. to Sahara Feeds Corp, 3 has. to Golden Aqua harvest Inc., 3 has to Neo-Mega Seahorse Aqua for their fish cage operations until the Samahang Pinagkaisa sa Pangisdaan (SAP-SAP) headed by Mark Figueras, the pampangaisdaang Reporma Adhika ng Samahang Mangingisda ng Zambales (PARASAMAZA) headed by Ruperto Apilado and a beach resort owner Carlos Rodriguez formalized their complaints beginning December 2005 to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales during its session presided over by vice governor Lacbain has unanimously adopted a resolution asking DENR-EMB director Claudio to immediately issue a cease and desists order to all fish cage operators in Subic to protect the bay from further damage.
It is expected that many fisherfolks, tourism-related establishment–owners, socio-civic leaders, NGO and government leaders including media representatives will join the demolition effort to settle this issue of fish cages which has been affecting many people for several years already.
The day before the meeting of vice governor Lacbain and Director Claudio, the members and supporters of clustered multi-partite monitoring team of DENR-EMB and the Subic Bay Resorts Association (SUBRA) during their regular monthly meeting at White rock Resort Hotel in Subic, Zambales was unanimous in asking Director Claudio to immediately cause the demolition of all remaining fish cages in Subic Bay.
The clustered multi-partite monitoring team of Subic Bay Resorts Association (SUBRA) and DENR-EMB has been in the forefront of protecting Subic Bay which is part of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone identified as a tourist destination because of its many beaches, resorts, forests, clean water and good peace and order situation.
SUBRA is headed by Olongapo City councilor and Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president Carlito Baloy, Greater Subic Bay Tourism Bureau (GSBTB) chairman George Lorenzana and Zambales vice governor Ramon Lacbain II while its members come from different socio-civic organizations, government agencies both local and national and business leaders.
This decision of Director Claudio was arrived at after a consultation meeting with Zambales vice governor Ramon Lacbain II yesterday afternoon in her office in Pampanga that was also attended by leaders of fisherfolks organizations, ICAG representatives and PNP Maritime officials.
During the discussion, vice governor Lacbain presented a letter from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) director Remedios Ongtangco attesting that the 22 hectares within Subic municipal water where the fish cages are currently being operated is not a demarcated area which is in violation of section 22 of Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 (Republic Act 8550).
The result of water quality and underwater assessment conducted by BFAR last January 27, 2006 at barangay Cawag in Subic, Zambales also reveals that there are now .08 – 1.3 meters of silt deposits under the water occupied by fish cages that come from feeds and discharge of fishes.
“I appeal to DENR-EMB to have the will to implement the cease and desists orders that you issued to fish cage operators in Subic last August 29, 2006. It’s been more than four months ago but there are still more fish cages operating within Subic Bay without environmental compliance certificates and within an area not demarcated by BFAR.
For the sake of the fisher folks who were denied their rights of access to about 22 hectares awarded to about 10 fish cage operators by virtue of Sangguniang Bayan of Subic resolutions, for the sake of the environment and for the sake of tourism in Subic Bay, these fish cages must be demolished as soon as possible” Lacbain asked Director Claudio during the meeting.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Subic through series of resolutions since 2001 and in succeeding years awarded 5 has. to SAKA Agri Ventures, 3 has. to Biotop Phil. Agriculture, 5 has. to Danilo Javier and Manuel Sy Ko, 3 has. to Sahara Feeds Corp, 3 has. to Golden Aqua harvest Inc., 3 has to Neo-Mega Seahorse Aqua for their fish cage operations until the Samahang Pinagkaisa sa Pangisdaan (SAP-SAP) headed by Mark Figueras, the pampangaisdaang Reporma Adhika ng Samahang Mangingisda ng Zambales (PARASAMAZA) headed by Ruperto Apilado and a beach resort owner Carlos Rodriguez formalized their complaints beginning December 2005 to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales during its session presided over by vice governor Lacbain has unanimously adopted a resolution asking DENR-EMB director Claudio to immediately issue a cease and desists order to all fish cage operators in Subic to protect the bay from further damage.
It is expected that many fisherfolks, tourism-related establishment–owners, socio-civic leaders, NGO and government leaders including media representatives will join the demolition effort to settle this issue of fish cages which has been affecting many people for several years already.
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
11:59 AM
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