Clearing city’s river is work-in-progress
MAYOR REBUKES DETRACTORS
THE task of cleaning and improving the city’s river network is a work-in-progress.
This was pointed out by Dagupan Mayor Belen T. Fernandez amid reports that fish pens continue to thrive in the city’s rivers despite its touted intensified campaign against illegal structures in the rivers.
“We are not yet totally done with our work of cleaning and improving the river. We continue to identify and dialogue with the people who surreptitiously set-up their illegal structures in the rivers even if I have already issued instruction to our City Agriculture Office to dismantle all fish pens in the rivers,” Ms. Fernandez said.
The mayor reported that the city agriculture office has already dismantled a total of 1,800 fish pens in the rivers since she assumed her post as city mayor.
“But we also have to take into consideration the investment of these people who do not heed our call to dismantle their illegal fishpens. We do not want to add more problems to our existing problems against fishpens by drastically removing their nets. That’s why talking to them is very important and this is taking us time,” Ms. Fernandez said.
She clarified though that her objective is not just about cleaning the river but to provide and improve the livelihood of the small fisherfolk in order that they can send their children to school.
“This is why we came out with the branding of the Dagupan bangus, the construction of the product center, the Island Tours, developing the tourism industry,” Ms. Fernandez said.
The lady mayor also pointed out that more structures like ‘batikwas’, ‘skylab’ and ‘sure-win’ are now being managed by small fisherfolk in the rivers to lure them away from being mere caretakers of fish pens.
The city government has also provided bancas and motorboats, fishing nets and livelihood training on dried fish and sautéed “agamang” to small fisherfolks.
Ms. Fernandez admits she’s disappointed that disgruntled fishpond owners would rather simply demand for the removal of City Agriculture Officer Emma J. Molina instead of helping her office improve the situation for the small fisherfolk.
“Talk to us because we are open,” Ms. Fernandez said obviously addressing the group of complaining fishpond owners. (CIO).
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