THE demolition of all illegal fish pens and cages along various rivers in Dagupan City is expected soon, following the passage of an ordinance that empowered Mayor Belen Fernandez, through the Bantay Ilog Task Force, to remove and prevent obstructions in these waterways.

The Bantay Ilog Empowerment Ordinance defines illegal structures as those fish pens, fish cages and similar contraptions that were: erected without a valid permit from the city government; located in prohibited zones; or abandoned, dilapidated, or unmaintained and posing environmental or navigational hazards.

Under the ordinance, Task Force Bantay Ilog was empowered to conduct regular monitoring of all rivers and tributaries, remove illegal structures, apprehend violators, and coordinate with appropriate law enforcement or regulatory agencies for filing charges.

The task force is also mandated in the ordinance authored jointly by Councilors Marcelino Fernandez and Michael Fernandez to conduct public information campaigns on the legal requirements regarding aquaculture structures and prevent new illegal structures from being constructed through active presence and deterrent enforcement.

Any person violating the ordinance shall be fined an amount of at least P5,000. The demolition of illegal structures shall also be at the violator’s expense, and the violator is barred from reapplication for a permit for a period of two years, depending on the gravity of the offense.

Repeat violations shall be considered as a grave offense, subject to further administrative or criminal action. (Leonardo Micua)