MACABEBE - The local chief executive of this town yesterday vowed to dismantle illegal fishponds including their multi-million structures causing obstruction at the mouth of Manila Bay.
According to Mayor Annette Balgan, illegal fishponds in their place could be partly blamed
in the flooding problem affecting low-lying towns in the province.
She said, illegal fishpond structures obstruct free flow of water from the Pampanga River going to Manila Bay.
Balgan claimed that in Barangay San Esteban alone, a place near the mouth of Manila Bay, more than 50 hectares have been ocufied by illegal fishponds.
As this developed, the lady mayor warned fishpond operators to voluntarily remove their structures otherwise they would be facing demolition in the coming days.
The mayor also narrated that during dry season, they cannot pass through going to the mouth of Manila Bay except during high tide.
It can recalled that as early as 1995, former President Fidel Ramos already ordered blasting and demolition of illegal fishponds in towns of Macabebe and Masantol.
President Ramos ordered the creation of Task Force Bilis Daloy for the said purpose. It was headed by then, Senior Superintendent Ruben Cabagnot, Region 3 deputy director for operation by Philippine National Police.
The said task force was assigned to blast all obstruction at the mouth of Manila Bay.
However, dismantling of structure involving illegal fishponds was subsequently stopped for lack funds.
According to Mayor Annette Balgan, illegal fishponds in their place could be partly blamed
in the flooding problem affecting low-lying towns in the province.
She said, illegal fishpond structures obstruct free flow of water from the Pampanga River going to Manila Bay.
Balgan claimed that in Barangay San Esteban alone, a place near the mouth of Manila Bay, more than 50 hectares have been ocufied by illegal fishponds.
As this developed, the lady mayor warned fishpond operators to voluntarily remove their structures otherwise they would be facing demolition in the coming days.
The mayor also narrated that during dry season, they cannot pass through going to the mouth of Manila Bay except during high tide.
It can recalled that as early as 1995, former President Fidel Ramos already ordered blasting and demolition of illegal fishponds in towns of Macabebe and Masantol.
President Ramos ordered the creation of Task Force Bilis Daloy for the said purpose. It was headed by then, Senior Superintendent Ruben Cabagnot, Region 3 deputy director for operation by Philippine National Police.
The said task force was assigned to blast all obstruction at the mouth of Manila Bay.
However, dismantling of structure involving illegal fishponds was subsequently stopped for lack funds.