WITH the onset of the August 31 deadline set for the dismantling of all illegal fish pens in Dagupan, Mayor Belen Fernandez unleashed all concerned government agencies of the city for the massive clearing operations of all waterways.

City Agriculture Officer Emma Molina said the mayor ordered her to tap the services of the Dagupan police, Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Police and related offices in the city government for the dismantling of some 100 illegal structures.

Only the 46 fish pens whose owners claim were built inside their titled properties but have already become part of rivers because of erosion over the years are temporarily spared from the demolition pending completion of the review being conducted by the City Legal Office.

City Legal Officer George Mejia was tasked to determine if cases should be filed against some of the owners of the illegal fish pens who violated the compromise agreements.

Molina said although only caretakers have been left to oversee the illegal fish pens, the owners and financiers of these structures, many of whom are from outside Dagupan, were already identified and possible legal action could be initiated against them.

Molina, head of the Task Force Bantay Ilog, with Ronnie Cayabyab as action officer, admitted that the two typhoons that triggered heavy monsoon rains over the last two weeks hampered their demolition activities.

She also said the flooding did not wash out nor destroy a single fish pen.

However, several owners have decided to harvest their stock even before maturity after a disease called epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) affected fish in some pens and cages. (See related story on the Business page)

“That gave us the opportunity to mark the emptied fish pens for immediate demolition,” Molina said.

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