AFTER weeks of contradicting reports about the actual number of illegal fish pens dismantled, the Bantay Ilog Task Force, led by City Agriculturist Emma Molina, admitted that it has failed to meet the deadline set by Mayor Belen Fernandez.

The team still has 12 more structures to demolish this week.

Ronnie Cayabyab, action officer of the task force, said two of these units are owned by Barangay Chairman Armando Cervantes of Salapingao, two other units at Sitio Talaib owned by Erwin Dy and two other units owned by Antonio Sibayan, both in Sitio Tokoc and two other units in Barangay Calmay owned by Robert del Prado.

One unit each owned by Antonio Estac, Allan Ballesteros, Sherwin Ubando in Pugaro and Darius Angeles in Lucao are also set for demolition, said Cayabyab who estimated that these structures will be removed by October 2.

Meanwhile, 16 persons voluntarily dismantled their own fish pens, saving the task force the time and effort.

Cayabyab said there are 56 fish pens on hold for dismantling pending the unresolved cases of claims over land titles that cover parts of the river.

The City Legal Office and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are reviewing the claims.

One such fish pen is owned by Barangay Chairman Lilia Yasar, which is occupying a portion of the navigational lane and whose fish pen poses danger to passing watercrafts.

Cayabyab said he will refer the case of Yasar’s fish pen to Molina, head of the task force, for consultation with Mayor Belen Fernandez.

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