200,000 tilapia, big head carp fingerlings freed in Laguna Lake

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday led a lake seeding activity in Laguna Lake where he freed thousands of fish fingerlings.

In his speech, Aquino urged the residents in Barangay Punta, Jalajala Rizal to help bring back the cleanliness and abundance of marine species in Laguna Lake.

"Malinaw ang daing sa atin ng Laguna Lake -- ang tagal natin siyang pinakinabangan, at obligasyon nating suklian ang kanyang pag-aaruga," Aquino said.

The President freed about 200,000 fingerlings of tilapia and big head carp in Laguna Lake as additional livelihood to fishermen who depend on the lake for their income.

Aquino noted that from January to May, there were about 6 million fingerlings of tilapia released in Laguna Lake with the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatice Resources, United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

The fingerlings benefitted some 1,400 fish cage operators who were affected by typhoon Ondoy.

Aquino reminded residents and the local government units in Rizal to treasure the lake by supporting the programs for Laguna Lake rehabilitation.

He also warned those fishermen who are still into illegal means of fishing.

"Hinihikayat ko ang mga pinuno ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa paligid ng Laguna Lake na aktibong makibalikat sa implementasyon ng Bantay Lawa program. Pamilya rin naman po ninyo ang pangunahing nakikinabang dito, kaya huwag ninyong hahayaang may umabuso sa lawang pinagmumulan ng kabuhayan ninyo," he said.

"Umaasa rin akong makikilahok kayo sa proyektong Institutional, Strategic and Development Agreement for Laguna Lake Water, o mas kilala sa tawag na Isda sa Lawa, upang bigyang diin ang tunay na halaga ng Laguna Bay, hindi lang sa aspektong pinansiyal, kundi ang kontribusyon nito sa ekonomiya at sa ating kultura," he added. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)