THE country’s largest business group Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry has earned the ire of the militant fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas over the former’s meddling in the Laguna de Bay rehabilitation and master plan.
“Thanks, but no thanks, to these businessmen. Laguna lake fishers and settlers don’t need their backing. PCCI has nothing to do with the master plan and development of Laguna de Bay for no less than the municipal fishermen and settlers, who are the user-manager of the lake, are the ones who know and are capable to revive the dying lake. [The] past administrations’ projects and programs [had] put the lake at its dying stage in the first place,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairperson, said in a statement.
The PCCI supports the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ order to dismantle fish pens in the 90,000-hectare brackish lake which will commence this year, saying it could also help in transforming the country’s largest lake into an eco-tourism and business hub.
But the fisherfolk group casts doubt about the business group’s intention over Laguna de Bay.
Pamalakaya denied the PCCI’s statement that domestic wastes were the primary reason behind Laguna de Bay pollution, saying industrial, commercial and government projects through widespread reclamation activities were the overall culprits behind the destruction of the lake.
Thousands of factories and commercial establishments along the lake have been irreverently dumping its various wastes in the lake for years now.
Rampant reclamation activities in several parts of Laguna de Bay have also aggravated the worsening condition of the lake.
“Blaming the residents as the main factor behind Laguna de Bay pollution might lead to their displacement in the guise of preserving the lake. We fear that letting this group of businessmen intrude into Laguna de Bay affairs would lead to total conversion of our productive fishing zone into their money-making ventures that could also put the lake at its final death bed,” Hicap said.
The PCCI is backing the government’s move to stop issuing fishing permits for Laguna Lake.
In a statement, the country’s largest business group said it fully supported the initiative of the government not to renew the permits to operate fish pens at Laguna Lake, which expired this month.
PCCI also welcomed the announcement made by the Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources that the government would dismantle other big fish pens starting January next year.
The group likewise supports the plan to convert Laguna Lake into an eco-tourism zone.
PCCI president George Barcelon said the government initiatives would go a long way in preserving Laguna Lake which serves as an important resource in the country.
Laguna de Bay is a shallow freshwater lake of about 90,000 hectares. Not only does the lake provide livelihood to fisherfolks, it also serves as source of water for domestic use and for agricultural irrigation.
Data from the Laguna Lake Development Authority show 81 percent of pollution in the lake come from the domestic sector, while 19 percent are from industries.
PCCI director for environment and climate change Felipe Gozon, however, said the government should also look into the conditions of other lakes in the country such as the Taal Lake.
“We need to preserve these lakes as they are major sources of fresh water and are rich in biodiversity,” Gozon said.
PCCI officials are urging the LLDA, being the water management authority, to come up with a master plan that would address domestic waste, urban run-off, and agricultural pollution.
Doing so would support efforts to reduce the fish pens and fish cages in the lake’s carrying capacity, ensuring sustainability of aquatic resources, they said.
PCCI said it would help LLDA formulate a master plan, given its reach as the country’s largest business group.