Demolition of fishponds set; owners asked to vacate

THE demolition of the expanded fishponds at the junction of the Iloio River and Calajunan Creek is already set while residents were notified to vacate the areas.

City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, chairman of the Iloilo River Development Council (IRDC), said the fishponds will have to be demolished to give way to the dredging of the Iloilo River.

The fishponds, that were located at the junction of the Iloilo River and Calajunan Creek in Mandurriao district, impede the flow of water, thus causing floods in at least six barangays in the area, Mabilog said.

Mabilog said the fishponds narrowed the flow of water in the river adjoining lot by the owners.

He also said the government is spending P4.5 million for the demolition operation against the illegal fishponds.

The City Government, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will spearhead the demolition of the expanded fishpond areas into the river and the creek.

The lot owners of the fishponds that were given notices were Epifania Mesa, Lourdes Avanceña, Nicolas Decena, Jose Clavel, Paz Genetia, Lorena Glass, John Eric Glass, and Clarence Corteza. (Lydia C. Pendon)