Enivonment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza wants to restore the pristine beauty of Laguna de Bay.
For this purpose, he has identified two measures to bring back the clear waters of the 90,000-hectare water body.
Atienza said the first measure which could bring back the glory of Laguna de Bay is the dismantling of fishpens that are now choking the lake.
The other action, he said, is a thorough review of the functions and operations of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), a government agency which has supervisory and regulatory powers over the lake.
LLDA is under the administrative control of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
"Fishpens have occupied almost the entire lake. Laguna de Bay is dying, and drastic efforts must be made to restore its ecological health," Atienza said.
The DENR chief said residues of fish feeds and their chemical content have immensely contributed to the rapid degradation of Laguna de Bay's condition. "The situation is further worsened by the dumping of effluents into the lake after payment of fees to LLDA," he noted.
"The lake's murky waters, the neverending cycle of fishkills and red tide, including the bad taste of fishes caught in the lake already prod us to undertake radical measures to save Laguna de Bay," Atienza said.
In calling for a review and revision of LLDA functions and regulations, Atienza said that LLDA is largely dependent for its existence on the fees being collected from fishpen owners and those who dump effluents into the water body.
"The LLDA has become a revenuedriven agency. Highly-dependent on users' fees to finance its operations, it has been aggressively charging fees left and right. With the thrust, the agency which is supposed to protect the lake will allow anyone to discharge effluents into the lake for a fee. This is very tragic," Atienza said.
He said the LLDA must be given appropriate budget to carry out its role in protecting the lake. "The status of LLDA is akin to hiring a policeman who does not receive any salary but is given a badge and an identification card and told to fend for himself," Atienza said.
Atienza also instructed LLDA personnel during a briefing at the DENR this week to focus on finding ways and implementing measures to protect Laguna de Bay from furtherl degradation.
He directed LLDA officials and employees to "exercise prudence" in demanding environment compliance certificates from owners of establishments.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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