57 illegal fishpens at Iloilo river up for demolition

Friday, February 10, 2012

THE office of the city agriculturist is recommending the immediate removal and demolition of 57 illegal fishpens at the Batiano River and the awarding of livelihood assistance to displaced fisherfolk.

Geraldine Hautea, officer-in-charge of the agriculturist office, said the removal of these illegal fishpens that include “punot” and “tangabs” was highly recommended by the Iloilo River Development Council (IRDC) due to river water constriction and accumulation of silt and other wastes at the river.

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Hautea said Senator Franklin M. Drilon assured financial assistance of P10,000 each to the displaced fisherfolks at the Batiano River.

Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reported the build-up of houses standing at the river and along the riverbanks.

A recent cadastral survey of the Batiano River spanning 10.23 kilometers from Iloilo City to the municipality of Oton, Iloilo showed the houses build-up on top of illegal fishpens and fishpond dikes, restricting mangroves and nipa clusters, an islet in the middle of the river and hundreds of informal riverbank dwellers.

Drilon earlier instructed the DENR to help bring back the Iloilo River and the connecting Batiano River system to their original form from the 1913 cadastral survey and the setting up of cadastral lot boundaries between the two local government units.

However, the priority was to remove all kinds of illegal structures soon.

Similarly, Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, chairman of the IRDC, said a committee was organized recently composed of the municipality of Oton, DENR, Land Management Services and the Department of Public Works and Highways to address these concerns. (Lydia C. Pendon)