TOURISM PLAN AT RISK

Braganza welcomes probe

LINGAYEN—It’s a desecration of a known wonder of the world.

This was the sentiment of the provincial government when it decided on an inquiry into the fishpond dikes made of white corals that have proliferated in some parts of the Hundred Islands National Park in Alaminos City.

Aerial photos of the dikes, taken by Task Force Kalikasan, which is undertaking a province-wide river clean-up program, were presented to the media last week by Provincial Information Officer Butch Velasco during the KBP forum in Dagupan.

Velasco said the presentation was intended to express the concern of the Espino administration on Pangasinan’s top tourist destination.

However, Alaminos Mayor Hernani Braganza branded the howl being raised by the provincial government on the Hundred Islands as “very unfortunate and irresponsible”.

It was learned that the dikes may have been constructed by the Bolo Development Cooperative (Bolodeco) and have been there for decades when it acquired Fishery Lease Agreement (FLA) issued by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)  way back during the Marcos regime.

Governor Amado Espino Jr. said his office will inquire further into the dikes with the intent of eventually removing the fishpond structures.

“Dapat alisin nila ang mga yan (fishpond dikes) dahil napakapangit talaga. Dahil ang park ay ginawa nang palaisdaan. Masama yan,” Espino said.

Braganza said he welcomes the investigation.

It will be recalled that the then Lingayen Gulf Area Management Commission (LGAMC) headed by retired General Valerio Perez tried but failed in 1994 but remove the group’s operations from the area.

The Department of Agrarian Reform reportedly also issued a Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOA) to members of Bolodeco when LGCAMC was disbanded.

The Hundred Islands National Park is listed as one of the country’s protected areas under the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act.

After turning over the management and supervision from the Philippine Tourism Authority, the Hundred Islands has been one of the success stories of the NIPAS law in terms of environmental protection through local government and community participation.

Velasco said the governor will write the Department of Tourism and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to inquire about their positions on the fishponds.

At the same time, Provincial Board Member Von Mark Mendoza, chairman of the committee on environment of the provincial board, said the province’s legislative body will investigate the extent of the structures and to find out if these violated the law.

“We will check if all the construction of these structures are in conflict with the policy of the province,” said Mendoza.—LM

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