DESPITE SUSPENSION OF ALA ISSUANCES

CONSTRUCTION of new fish pens remains unabated in various rivers in Dagupan despite the recent order of Mayor Benjamin Lim to temporarily stop the issuance of Aquatic Lease Agreement (ALA).

This was disclosed by Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, who also chairs the city council, which is conducting an inquiry in aid of legislation on the apparent low amount of fees collected by the city government from fish pen operators.

“I thought the mayor stopped the issuance of ALA but until now, there are people we have seen many building their respective fish pens with our own eyes,” she said.

City Agriculture Officer Emma, who has been invited twice by the city council to shed light on the problem, herself admitted that one of the new fish pens recently built is owned by a former barangay official of Calmay.

“What is the city agriculture officer doing since with all fish pens that are still sprouting,” Fernandez said.

NO TEETH?

Meanwhile, Fernandez also said that she does not agree with the claim of Molina that the city’s fishery ordinance lacks teeth to go after illegal fish pen operators.

Molina earlier said they have not demolished the marked illegal fish pens because she has not received any order from the mayor to do so. She also said that the ordinance does not allow the city to collect the appropriate fees, particularly the arrears.

Fernandez said it appears that Molina wants to put the blame on both the executive and the legislative divisions of the city government “for her utter failure to enforce the fishery ordinance and collect the needed fees”.—LM

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