UPON her arrival from a weeklong vacation in Spain, Mayor Belen Fernandez immediately met with members of Task Force Bantay Ilog to map out all-out demolition of fish pens, targeting structures that are still standing in rivers.

Noting reports from the task force that 47 illegal fish pens have already been demolished since January this year and there are 300 more still operating, Ms. Fernandez vowed to dismantle all the remaining structures at the start of her second term of office.

Maximo Solis, head of Task Force Bantay Ilog, clarified that the 47 fish pens demolished so far were accomplished manually adding that what his group did mostly was to mark all the illegal fish pens with red paints.

He said now that the fish pens were already marked with red paints, the demolition and dismantling can proceed more speedily.

Demolished so far were pens owned by Leo Bautista/Romnick Victorio, Sara Jane Maramba, Romy Ferrer/Marlon Flores, Hilario Victorio/Nelson Flores, Jose Bautista, Erwin Dee/Leo Ambeguia, Lorenzo Patayno/Allan Parayno, Aileen Vila/Arturo Vila and Allan Ballesteros in Salapingao; and Anthony Ang Angco/Ramil Jose/Darius Angeles/Dotdot Caguioa/Rubel Raquel/Reynante Dacurong in Tucok, Lucao;

Jong Reyes/Arnel Prado of Longos; Rena de la Pena/ Manuel Pinemtel/ Allan Ballesteros/Leonora Bautista in Salapingao; Erwin Dee/Juanito Eristingcol/ Eugene de Vera in Pugaro; Zeny de la Pena/Domy de la Pena/Rosita Abando/Anthony Ang Angco/Ramil Jose in Talaib-Carael;

Rivadelo/Rudy Rosario/ Maria Cristo Queen de la Cruz in Bonuan Longos; Eddue Narag/Ramin Ventura/ Roderick Carcha/Louie Payomo, Abelador Abueme/Jorge Ramos/ Milagros Caneng in Calmay; Capt. Ador Bancod/ Ramin Ventura in Pugaro Buer; Nestor Cabison in Warac, Mamalingling; Rieto Tabilen/Raffy Caridad in Pugaro Suit.

Three big fish pens owned by former and incumbent barangay officials, about a half hectare each, were identified by Fernandez as among the first to be dismantled in the intensified operations.

Solis said the oversized fish pens were spared initially because the owners of the same claimed these were built on their titled property covered by tax declarations.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) later affirmed that a private property that has become part of rivers over the years is now part of public domain over which the national government has jurisdiction.

“We will continue to help our small fishermen by bringing back the bounty of the river to them,” said Mayor Fernandez.

Also called by the mayor to the meeting the following day with the task force were from the Dagupan Police, City Engineering Office, City Legal Office and the City Assessor’s Office and barangay captains. (Leonardo Micua)

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