The Fishing Industry of Laguna de Bay after the Implementation of Resolution No.

518

Series of 2017

Research Paper

Presented to the Senior High School Department

Statefields School Inc.,

Calub, Maikah Sabrina

Cuyos, Scherenee Reign

De Guzman, Josephine

Felizardo, Angelo

Vecino, Gwyneth Faye

September 2017

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I:

a. Introduction 1

b. Significance of the Study 2

c. Background of the Study 3

d. Research Questions 5

e. Framework 6

CHAPTER II

a. Review of Related Literature 8

CHAPTER III

a. Research Methodology 17

b. Research Design

c. Procedure 18

CHAPTER IV

a. Results and Discussion 19

CHAPTER V

a. Conclusion and Recommendations 27

BIBLIOGRAPHY 28

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 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is an archipelagic country with 7,641 islands. The country has more

water than it has land. Fisheries is a very important industry in the Philippines, it prides itself as

the world’s eighth largest fish producer and for having the second longest coastline with

hundreds of protected coves. Its fisheries production comprises commercial fishing, municipal

fishing, and aquaculture fishing. This paper will discuss the fishing industry of Laguna de Bay,

particularly their fish pen and fish cage operations (Integration & Application Network, 2015).

Laguna de Bay is the biggest fresh water lake in the Philippines, and the third largest in

South East Asia. It is a huge source of fisheries in the Philippines and its region is being

managed by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). According to Israel (2007),

Laguna de Bay accounts for 17% of the national fisheries production, 10% of the national

production for aquaculture and 44% of the national production for municipal fisheries. Fish

culture in pens in Laguna de Bay has been successfully and profitably practiced during the past

decades. The industry began after the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)

demonstrated successfully the commercial culture of milkfish in pens at Cardona, Rizal in 1970.

Since 1970, fish pens have increased in Laguna de Bay.

Both cage and pen cultures are types of enclosure culture, and it involves holding

organisms confined within an enclosed space while maintaining a free exchange of water. These

two methods are recognizable from each other. A fish pen is an artificial and stationary water

enclosure for the culture of fish and other aquatic animal species. It is made up of bamboo poles,

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wood, screen, and other construction materials intentionally assembled to prevent the escape of

fish. A fish cage is an artificial and stationary or floating water enclosure smaller than a fish pen

but made up of similar construction materials. In Laguna de Bay, a fish pen is further defined as

having a water surface area of more than one hectare while a fish cage has a water surface area

of one hectare or less. A fish cage in the lake generally has a net bottom while a fish pen has

none (Israel, 2008).

Due to constant industrialization, particularly in the equipment that is used for the

production of the fishes, fish pens and fish cages in Laguna de Bay have largely increased in

amount and the lake has become congested which has cause environmental issues like

eutrophication, this happens when a lake is covered with algae that blocks light from reaching

the water and prevents the aquatic plants from photosynthesizing, a process which provides

oxygen in the water and the large amounts of waste produced by the fishes must be removed

regularly or it will cause eutrophication around the water.

The significance of having knowledge regarding the impact of the implementation of

Resolution No. 518 in the fish pen and fish cage industry in Laguna de Bay, particularly in the

economical and sociological aspect, is to be able to raise awareness and encourage the authority

and citizens to come up with solutions to help prevent the continuous deterioration of the health

of Laguna Lake, where one of the causes is the congestion caused by fish pens and fish cages.

This can also have a huge impact on the marine life which is one of the main sources of food and

living for some people. According to Defenders of Wildlife, these marine ecosystems also

support a great diversity of life and variety of habitats.

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 The importance of the study is to know the scope of the moratorium on the fish cages and

fish pens in Laguna de Bay, and to be able to determine if it was able to make a significant

improvement in the state of the Laguna Lake. The study also aims to distinguish the changes

within their fishing industry during the implementation of the ban to know how it affected the

people living within the area since fish farming is one of their main sources of living.

Background of the Study

For the past years, there had been a lot of innovation in the fishing industry particularly in

the equipment that is used for the production of the fishes. This research tackles on how the

usage of fish pen and fish cage affects the livelihood of fishermen in Laguna Lake after the

implementation of Resolution No. 518. This research also illustrates the effects caused by the

changes in their fishing industry to the lives of the citizens of Laguna.

According to FAO Corporate Document Repository (n.d), large-scale fish pens have

endangered the economic conditions of fishermen dependent upon open water fishery.  Illegal

fishing activities and increased aquaculture operations also led to declining harvest due to

depletion of natural resources. The LLDA and DENR were alarmed about the environmental

impacts of these methods, and intensive culture is believed to accelerate eutrophication, which

happens when there is a progressive increase in the concentration of phosphorus, nitrogen, and

other plant nutrients in an aging aquatic ecosystem such as a lake. At some point, these cause a

huge drop in the fish mortality rate and cause destruction in the marine ecosystem. Cage and pen

structures affect a water body in three principal ways: they take up space, thus potentially

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competing with other users; they alter flow regimes which govern the transport of oxygen,

sediment, plankton and fish larvae; they have an impact on the aesthetic qualities of the site.

Saunar (2016) wrote that Nereus Acosta, chief of the Laguna Lake Development

Authority (LLDA), said that the Laguna de Bay is being “choked” and that the lake’s condition

is not as good as before which causes a stunt in the growth of fishes. He mentioned some of the

laws concerning the fisheries in the country. Section 51 of the Fisheries Code of the Philippines

(Republic Act No. 8550) states that “not over 10 percent of the suitable water surface area of all

lakes and rivers shall be allotted for aquaculture purposes like fish pens, fish cages, and fish

traps.” RA 8550 also says that the “stocking density and feeding requirement shall be controlled

and determined by the [lake’s] carrying capacity.” The lake’s carrying capacity, therefore, allows

up to only 9,000 hectares for aquaculture. But over the years, the area covered by fish pens and

fish cages had grown to 12,315.80 hectares as of June 30, 2016. Records from the LLDA showed

that 358 fish pen operators, who own fishing structures, occupy a combined area of 10,438.74

hectares. This means that even those operating “legally” exceed the limit by a little over 1,000

hectares. This also means that structures occupying over 2,000 hectares are illegal.

Mayuga (2016) said that President Duterte conveyed disappointment that the Laguna de

Bay has become congested and occupants are mostly large fishing corporations which deprive

fishermen access to their traditional fishing grounds. He wants to prioritize small fishermen to

benefit from the lake by fishing in open waters or aquaculture production, by giving contracts to

operate fish cages in designated areas.

In executing Duterte’s commands to clear the Laguna de Bay of illegal structures, Lopez

said they plan to end all fish cage operations to allow the lake to recover from decades of

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environmental degradation for at least one year. The fisher folk group ‘Pambansang Lakas ng

Kilusang Mamamalakaya’ (Pamakaya-Pilipinas) showed their approval regarding the temporary

one year legal prohibition on the issuance of permits for fish pen operators in Laguna de Bay

starting 2017, implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

They also stated that the small fishermen will be able to utilize the lake that has been congested

for years due to the rapid increase of fish pens that is owned by large corporations and powerful

individuals. The temporary prohibition will also free the lake from degradation caused by

chemical-based pellet feeds used to culture fish which is one of the main factors why Laguna de

Bay has reached its vanishing stage.

 The overall objective of this paper is to illustrate the effects caused by the changes in

their fishing industry to the lives of the citizens of Laguna and to further know the future plans of

the authorities of Laguna de Bay regarding the operation of fish cages and fish pens.

This study aimed to answer different questions about the threats of the fish pens and fish

cages and how it can lead to dropping of fish mortality rate that result to the decline of fishing

industry:

1. What is the significance of knowing how the decline in the Fishing Industry affect the

livelihood of fishermen in Laguna Lake?

2. What is the reaction of big fishing industries and small fisher folks in Laguna regarding

the moratorium in Laguna de Bay?

3. Was the prohibition of the fish pens and fish cages for the past quarter effective in

improving the state of Laguna de Bay? What would be the actions or plans of LLDA and

DENR if the problem in the lake is still prominent after the one-year ban?

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Framework

The decline of the Fishing Industry can have an enormous effect on big fishing industries,

fishermen, and the citizens in Laguna De Bay. The research paper will be divided into two

aspects mainly: (1) the moratorium of fish pen culture in Laguna de Bay disturbs the income of

fishing industry and (2) the ban gives way to traditional farmers and aids the problem regarding

the dwindling sources of food such as their supply of fishes. There are factors that need to be

considered mainly is that the fish pens and fish cages are one of the fishermen’s sources of

income and prohibiting it could be the reason for their downfall.

The economy is evidently affected by the ban. Not only the large fishing industries,

but also the small fisher folks who are living around the vicinity of Laguna de Bay are affected.

Their fish production and source of income is dependent on the lake resources. Although the

industry project of fish pens and fish cages is cost-effective and economically essential to the big

businesses and small fisher folks, the increase of quantity of these structures congested and

endangers the aquaculture living in the lake. This paved way to the implementation of Resolution

No. 518 Series of 2017 which is the one-year moratorium on the operation of aquaculture

structures in the lake.

The sociological aspect of the temporary ban on fish pen and fish cage permits given by

the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shows that the sources of food

of the people living around there, such as the supply of bangus, has been dwindling due to slower

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 fish growth caused by the poor condition of the lake. The ban also gives way to small-scale

Laguna lake fishers who have been deprived of their traditional fishing zones which for many

years has been congested due to fish pen proliferation owned by big commercial fishing firms

and powerful individuals (Alcober, 2016).

Framework

THE FISHING INDUSTRY IN LAGUNA LAKE AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

RESOLUTION NO. 518 SERIES OF 2017

The Livelihood of the Fishing Industry in The Prominent Subsistence Fishing in the
the Implementation of Resolution No. 518 Implementation of Resolution No. 518
Series of 2017 Series of 2017

Resolution No. 518 Series of 2017 of the Board
of the Laguna Lake Development Authority
(LLDA) – Declaring a Moratorium on the
Operation of Aquaculture structures within
Laguna de Bay (Javier, 2017)
Republic Act 8850 known as the “Fisheries Code
of the Philippines”
1996 Fishery Zoning and Management Plan
(ZOMAP) – to identify fishing zones and
navigational lanes (Mayuga, 2017)
The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang
Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas agrees on the
ban on Laguna Lake fish pens because the
absence of wide fish pens will open the
lake for the utilization of small fishermen.
Laguna Lake has become more vulnerable
to bigger companies due to environmental
deterioration (Fernandez, 2015)

The fishing industry and the environment of Laguna will benefit from this
study to be informed regarding the causes of its decline. The changes affect the
citizens living around the area of Laguna de Bay such as their lifestyles, traditions,
jobs, and food sources. Lastly, the temporary ban gives way to the traditional
fishermen who have been deprived of the Laguna de Bay.
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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter shows the related literature which describes the fishing industry in Laguna

de Bay and shows the importance of it in the daily lives of humans. Currently, there are threats

that are causing the possible decline in their fishing industry thus affecting the people living in

living within the area.

Defenders of Wildlife (2016) defines that oceans cover approximately 70% of the earth’s

surface with an average depth of 2.4 miles or 3,800 meters. Marine ecosystems support a great

diversity of life and variety of habitats. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

Marine life refers to the plants, animals, and other organisms that live in the ocean. At a

fundamental level, marine life helps determine the very nature of our planet. Marine organisms

produce much of the oxygen we breathe. Shorelines are in part shaped and protected by marine

life, and some marine organisms even help create new land.

The Philippines is an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia which is rich in marine life,

due to the fact that the country has a lot of bodies of water that surrounds its series of islands.

According to Philippine Sustainable Development Network (PSDN), Laguna de Bay, popularly

known as Laguna Lake, is the Philippines' largest inland water body covering 98,000 hectares

and situated at the heart of the CALABARZON (includes the provinces of Cavite, Laguna,

Batangas, Rizal And Quezon) area - the region's highly urbanized and developed center. It is a

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significant natural resource, being the catchment of an expansive and environmentally important

watershed.

Borja, et al. (2006), states that the lake is bounded by six (6) provinces, twelve (12) cities,

and forty-nine (49) municipalities, of which are lakeshore towns, and an estimated population of

6 million people. A total of twenty-four (24) sub-basins drain directly to the lake, with the

Pagsanjan-Lumban Rivers System contributing to as much as 35% of the total inflow to the lake.

The creation of the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) in 1966 started with a vision

of the political leaders from the provinces of Rizal and Laguna to cultivate the potential of the

lake and its environs for further development and, at the same time, control its environmental

degradation. It also reflects the wisdom of the lawmakers in creating a separate agency to

manage the lake amidst the multiple political jurisdictions in the watershed. A unique feature of

the jurisdictional area of the LLDA is that it goes beyond the lake’s watershed.

Baguilat (as cited in Southeast Fisheries Development Center, Aquaculture Department

Institutional Repository, 2017) said that in 1968, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

initiated what one might call a “laboratory scale” fish pen in Laguna De Bay. In 1970, LLDA

introduced a 40-hectare pilot commercial scale fish pen project in Bo. Looc, Cardona, Rizal, to

demonstrate that yield per hectare of 4 to 10 times the natural productivity of the lake could be

realized. This venture was to change the entire concept of Laguna de Bay as a fishery resource.

A new industry was born. Almost immediately following the LLDA fish pen were a few

enterprising operators. Thereafter, the hectare varied each year – rising or falling depending on a

number of factors. But an average of 5,000 hectares at Php30 000 per hectare, a total of Php150

million was invested in the fish industry in Laguna Lake. At an average of 5,000 kg per hectare

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per year, this industry is contributing significantly to the fish supply of the country particularly

the Metro Manila Area.

Delmendo, et al. (as cited in Israel (2007), stated that over the years, several studies have

been conducted on aquaculture development in Laguna de Bay. Some of these works specifically

looked into the financial viability of fish pen and fish cage operations. Results were stated also

regarding the pilot activity in Cardona, Rizal and reported that milkfish could be raised entirely

using the natural food supply of the lake which suggested that aquaculture there was possible. In

a survey of fish pen operators covering the years 1974 and 1975, indicated that fish pen

operations in the lake were highly profitable.

In a study on fish cage culture in Laguna de Bay, Garcia, et al. (as cited in Israel, 2007),

pointed out that like fish pen culture, fish cage culture was a highly profitable operation. It

explained that on a per hectare basis, fish cage culture may even be more productive and

profitable compared to fish pen culture. The study suggested that for fish cage culture to be

developed further, improvement in the technology has to be done particularly related to cage

construction, operation and management.

In another study on fish cage culture done in two villages in Laguna de Bay, Gonzales

(as cited in Israel, 2007) found that both the incomes and savings of families with fish cages had

increased significantly. This result was supported by a succeeding study by Basiao which

indicated that fish cage culture of tilapia in particular, even without supplemental feeding, can be

conducted successfully in the lake. In still another study that surveyed two towns in the lake,

however, Lazaga and Roa found low economic viability of tilapia fish cage culture which was

attributed to the overcrowding of cages, poaching and typhoon damage.

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 Studies have been conducted investigating the various problems of aquaculture in Laguna

de Bay. Davies, et al., (n.d.) cited that while fish pen development contributed to fish production

in the lake, it also resulted in the abundance of fish pens which disregarded and altered the lake

ecology. While fish pen and fish cage culture increased in Laguna de Bay, it also faced numerous

problems that prevented it from attaining its full potential as an economic activity. Some of these

problems were created by the practice itself and had a negative impact not only on aquaculture

but on other sectors as well. As a result, there were suggestions and efforts of late to reduce, if

not totally eliminate, fish pen and fish cage culture in the lake (Adraneda, as cited in Israel,

2008).

Nicolas and Libero (as cited in Israel, 2007) also identified numerous problems faced by

fish pen operators in Laguna de Bay. These included the occurrence of typhoons, poaching,

insufficient technical support from the government, irregular supply of seed stock, the exorbitant

price of seed, and unavailability of credit for pen construction. Delmendo furthermore pointed

out that fish pen culture in Laguna de Bay was hampered by several problems including the

occurrence of fortuitous events like typhoons and floods, ecological and environmental problems

like algal blooms, and social and economic problems like the displacement of local fishermen

because of the expansion of fish pen culture.

After years went by, the fish pen industry has continued to expand. Cinco (2017) said that

in an endeavor to regulate the growing fish pen industry, the LLDA, in 1983, drew up a zoning

map. However, it took the agency 12 years to completely enforce it due to strong opposition

from fish pen operators. The Fishery Zoning and Management Plan (also called ZOMAP) is

similar to a subdivision plan, identifying fishing zones and navigational lanes. The government is

using the 2003 ZOMAP, known as the “Arroyo belt” or the “Cataquiz belt,” as it was revised

13
during the administration of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with Calixto Cataquiz as

LLDA general manager. It restricts fish pens within a 10,000-hectare area and smaller fish cages

in a 5,000-hectare area. Over the past 10 years, the LLDA has stopped issuing permits to new

investors, prompting other operators to build structures outside the map that eat up navigational

lanes.

According to Lacanilao (as cited in Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center,

Aquaculture Department Institutional Repository, 2017), supplemental feeding for cultured fish

added about 22 tons of nitrogen into the lake which degraded its water quality in the year 1985.

Congestion of fish pens hindered water circulation and favored the growth of water hyacinth

which prospers in calm water; such hindered navigation, especially on the part of the fishermen.

Access to open waters became challenging for the small fishermen, which led to open

antagonism between the fisher folk and the pen operators that on several occasions resulted in

the death of a number of fishermen.

After years of coming up with solutions, the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources (DENR) has decided to announce a one-year temporary prohibition on the issuance of

permits for fish cage operations in Laguna de Bay starting 2017. According to Environment

Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez, the DENR, through the Laguna Lake Development Authority

(LLDA), the permits issued to the fish cage operators before 2017 will no longer be renewed.

Tan, et al. (2010) said that it is surprising to note that with all the increasing concern on

the suitability of fish from Laguna de Bay for human consumption and the negative insights on

fish pen operation on the lake water quality, research studies on these matters continue to fall

behind. Insufficient studies exist and need a lot of updating to scientifically back up any action

against/for any lake resource use. It is no doubt then that without well-built scientific proof or

14
backing, any pronouncements that will affect a particular stakeholder in favor of another will be

met with much resistance. Such is the case of the “zero fish pen policy” being pursued by

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-LLDA. The fish pen operators are

left with no option but to secure their stake in the lake.

According to Mayuga (2016), Environment Secretary Regina Paz L. Lopez, the DENR,

said that the permit to operate fish cages expires December 2016. The fish-cage operators are

permitted to harvest their stocks up until March. Then, after that, there would be a moratorium

on fish-cage operation for a year. The DENR chief met with the fish-cage and fish-pen operators

to inform them of the decision.

Although the lake is a multiple use resource, its dominant use is for fisheries. The

introduction of fish pen technology in the lake has produced economic benefits, but also has

become a case of serious conflict on resource utilization and access that reached the attention of

the President of the Philippines. Mayuga (2016) said that President Duterte conveyed

disappointment that the Laguna de Bay has become congested and occupants are mostly large

fishing corporations which deprive fishermen access to their traditional fishing grounds.

President Duterte had stated that forty hectares is too big of an area for a fish cage.

Lopez said that the President wants to prioritize small fishermen to benefit from the lake

by fishing in open waters or aquaculture production, and by giving contracts to operate fish cages

in designated areas. In carrying out Duterte’s commands to clear the Laguna de Bay of illegal

structures, Lopez said they plan to end all fish-cage operations to allow the lake to recover from

decades of environmental degradation for at least one year.

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 As cited in Mayuga (2016), Undersecretary Art Valdez, head of the National Anti-

Environmental Crime Task Force, said that the owners of the structures would be asked to

voluntarily dismantle their fish cage and fish pens to allow them to salvage materials. Otherwise,

he said the DENR and LLDA would be forced to demolish the fish cages and fish pens.

Valdez (as cited in Mayuga, 2016), stated that the lake’s carrying capacity is roughly

9,000 hectares but the total area occupied by fish cages and fish pens is estimated to be around

13,000 hectares. The lake can accommodate only 9,000 hectares of fish pens or 10 percent of its

size. However, current data from the Laguna Lake Development Authority shows 22,500

hectares of the lake being occupied by big fish pen operators and private individuals. Laguna de

Bay is a major aquaculture hub where the bulk of Metro Manila’s bangus and tilapia supply are

grown.

Alcober (2016) tells that the fisher folk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang

Mamamalakaya (Pamakaya-Pilipinas) showed their approval regarding the temporary one year

legal prohibition on the issuance of permits for fish pen operators in Laguna de Bay starting

2017, implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

According to Pamakaya-Pilipinas (as cited in Alcober, 2016), this will give opportunities

to small fishermen who have been deprived of their traditional and communal fishing zones for a

long period of time. They also stated that the small fishermen will be able to utilize the lake that

has been congested for years due to the rapid increase of fish pens that is owned by large

corporations and powerful individuals. The lake will also have the time to recover from decades

of environmental degradation.

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 The Pamakaya-Pilipinas does not completely disagree with having fish pens in Laguna de

Bay but they believe that the moratorium for fish pens should be for good. For them, one year of

prohibition is not enough to help the lake recover and for them to maximize the use of the lake.

Pamakaya-Pilipinas said that the fishermen have been deprived of their collective rights on their

traditional fishing grounds for decades, but now is the time for them to regain and acknowledge

their collective control on the lake permanently.

The fisher folk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya (Pamakaya-

Pilipinas) commended the plan by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(DENR) for a temporary prohibition on the issuance of permits for fish pen operators in Laguna

de Bay starting the year 2017. The group stated that the action will open the 90 thousand hectare

brackish water to municipal and small-scale fishermen who have long been underprivileged of

their traditional and communal fishing zones.

Fernando Hicap, Pamakaya Chairperson, said that this is a good start because vacancy of

the lake from the non-appearance of wide fish pens will open it for the utilization of small

fishermen which for many years has been crowded due to fish pen generation owned by big

commercial fishing firms and powerful individuals. The temporary prohibition will also free the

lake from degradation caused by chemical-based pellet feeds used to culture fish which is one of

the main factors why Laguna de Bay has reached its congested point.

Hicap proclaimed that the moratorium of fish pens should be for good, they do not totally

reject fish pens in Laguna de Bay, but it should comply with what the lake can only hold and on

top of it, fisher folk organizations and cooperatives should be the ones who will manage the fish

pens.

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 Pamalakaya supposed that DENR’s dismantling of wide fish pens in Laguna de Bay is a

welcome development for the lake’s rehabilitation since various government projects in the past

have destroyed the lake’s natural ecosystem affecting the livelihood of the fisher folk who

suffered from fish catch depletion and fishing ground congestion. Once the temporary ban stops,

there is a possibility that fish pens would increase once more, thus risking the environmental

health of the Laguna Lake again.

Manalo (2017) reported that studies shows that the target number of hectare for this year

is 9,200 hectares are allowed to be covered by fish pens but there are 13,000 to 14,000 hectares

of fish pens all over Laguna de Bay. There are some companies who voluntarily dismantled 313

hectares of the structure.

According to Villanueva (2017), Malou Remullar, chief of the LLDA enforcement

division stated that there are 800 hectares covering the dismantled pens of the 1,100-hectare area

set for clearing operation. Experts are conducting studies on how to make aquatic resources

sustainable. In addition, Jaime Medina, LLDA general manager instructed that the pens that are

blocking the lake’s navigational lanes and those who operate outside the designated area will be

wiped out.

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 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The purpose of this study is to gain insights about how the community around the Laguna

Lake uses the fish pen and fish cages as a way of their livelihood and how the prohibition of fish

pen and fish cages affected their source of income. This chapter illustrated the research designs,

study approach, population and sample, research instrument, data-gathering procedure.

Research Design

This study utilized the descriptive design of research as well as content and discourse

analysis. Descriptive design of research is appropriate to this study since it aims to describe

the current state of the fish pen and fish cage culture in Laguna Lake and how it affects the lives

of those who live around the area while content and discourse analysis would help the

researchers expound their knowledge on the topic through the help of valid inferences from text

such as academic journals.

Secondary resources were used for data-gathering; these are the other relevant sources

such as journals, literature, and other news. The researchers opted to use this kind of research in

order to acquire more information from valid and reliable resources, as well as to formulate

rational and sound conclusions and recommendations for the study.

19
Procedure

The procedure was divided into four phases:

Phase I – Selecting the environmental issue to study, which is the decline of the fishing industry

in Laguna de Bay.

Phase II – Researching and reading news articles and academic journals of other researchers as a

related literature for the study, in order to gather information regarding the fish pen & fish cage

culture in Laguna de Bay, the temporary ban, as well as other places who also had a ban in their

fish pen & cage culture.

Phase III – Studying the possible economical and sociological aspects of the chosen

environmental issue.

Phase IV – Analyzing the accumulated data in order to form conclusions and see if the

objectives of the study were met by the researchers. The researchers will also put

recommendations for the future researchers of the topic.

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 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This chapter presents the results and findings of the researchers about the fish pen and

fish cage operations in Laguna de Bay based on the results attained from the secondary resources

such as relevant journal and news articles.

Laguna Lake Development Authority started to dismantle illegal structures of fish pen

and fish cages in Laguna de Bay to help the lake restore its ecological balance like the once

healthy and economically useful lake. Laguna de Bay still remains the biggest aquaculture hub in

the Philippines.

Figure 1: Number of Registered Fish Pen and Fish Cage Operators in Laguna de Bay (Israel,

2007)

21
 The figure presents the total number of registered fish pen and fish cage operators, reached

its peak during the year 2005. But the following year there was a sudden decrease in the number

of fish cage operators. In 2005, there were 1,808 fish cage operators who occupied 1,111

hectares while the number of operators in 2006 decreased to 1,599 and the area covered by fish

cages also decreased to 998 hectares. The fish pen operators numbering to 465 occupied 12,117

hectares in 2006 increased in number compared to the 365 fish pen operators in 2005 with

10,174 hectares.

Figure 2: Philippines – Total Fishery Production (FAO Fishery Information, Data and Statistics,

n.d.)

The figure illustrates the increase and decrease of the total number of capture and

aquaculture. It appears that from 1980 there is an increase of thousand tons in year 1984, then

decreased in 1986, increased highly in 1991, decreased in 1997, the year of the most prominent

level of fishery production is in 2010 which produce about 3,300 thousand tons of fishes but

there is a huge decrease of production of fishes in 2011 that is about 3,100 tons and almost the

same level as year 2012. So, from 1980 to 2012 there’s an increase in total fishery production but

22
since year 2010 has the highest amount in the fishery production is it already take for as a

decrease.

Figure 3: Philippines - Import and export value of fish and fishery products (FAO Fishery

Information, Data and Statistics, n.d.)

The import and export value of fish and fishery products in chart have simultaneously

fluctuated. From 1980 to 2013, an unfinished Elliott wave was formed in the graph of export

value. Some attempts of breaking out by the export value were recorded like in the case of the

year 2008 but decreased in 2009, increased again in 2010, stabilized in 2011, increased in 2012

before finally reaching a positive breakout in 2013. The import value follows the fluctuation of

the export, although the former is much lower than the latter. Although, there are also successive

years when the export has decreased but the import has increased as in the case of 1998 and

1999. Since the graph of the export is much higher than that of the import, Figure 3 overall

presents a positive graph on the balance of the country’s trades regarding fish and fishery

products.

23
 The low export value in the year 2005 in Figure 3 corresponds with the first two figures

when the number of registered fish pen and cage operators reached its peak (Fig.1) and the total

fishery production is just starting to increase (Fig.2).

According to FAO Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Unit (n.d.), in spite of being

ranked among the top fish producing countries in the world in 2011 and third in largest

producing farmed seaweeds (1.7M tons of production in 2012). In 2012, the country accumulated

Php 30.07B worth of trade surplus from importing and exporting fish and fishery products. In

2014, FAO, as cited by BFAR, construed in that the total production of fish products of the

Philippines is 4.7M metric tons, 2.4% of the total world production of 195.7M metric tons,

making it rank 8th in the world.

In 2015, the fisheries production decreased by 0.9% from the previous year’s production

of 4.7 million metric tons. The P240 billion contribution in 2015 was lower compared in 2014

when the industry contributed P242 billion. The two highest contributing sub-sectors are the

Aquaculture fisheries and Municipal fisheries.

According to Cinco (2017), Laguna de Bay generates almost 60% of the Philippines’

Gross Domestic product. In President Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address, he mentioned

the lake as a part of his administrations’ environment program; he said his objective is to

transform the lake into a “vibrant economic zone showcasing ecotourism.” Furthermore, Bureau

of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. (2014) stated that the fishing industry’s contribution to the

country’s GDP were 1.5% and 1.7% at current which is P194 billion for the current prices and

P128.5 billion for constant prices.

24
 Tan, et al. (2010) indicated that there are no substitute sources that can supply the gap

that will be created if all the fish pen and fish cages get dismantled. Without it, all the benefits

will be declined, making the “zero fish pen” policy highly costly.

In contrast, Arcalas (2016) reported that the Department of Agriculture considers

implementing sustainable aquaculture systems developed abroad in Laguna de Bay. There are

concrete fish tanks in the US which draw water from 1,200 feet underground using solar

powered pumps. Another system is the Norwegian-type fish cages which are circular and has

steel frames. These options would supply fresh and clean fishes and also purify the water.

According to Mayuga (2017), the Federation of Fish Pen and Fish Cage Operators of Laguna

de Bay, which includes corporations, cooperatives, and individuals, continuously support the

LLDA Chief Medina’s strategy which is to reduce the areas of operation and voluntarily

dismantle fish cages and pens. They emphasized that stopping the operations of aquaculture in

Laguna de Bay could have an adverse impact on the supply of bangus and tilapia which could

cause, in turn, drastic changes in their selling price from P150 to P180 a kilo to P250 a kilo. In

the same way, Javier (2017) explained that larger fish pens have the advantages of higher return

rate from capital investments and lower operating costs over small ones, the former provide

lower fish prices to the consumers.

According to Medina (as cited in Mayuga, 2017), Roy A. Cimatu, the new DENR

secretary who replaced Lopez, instructions to the LLDA was to diminish the quantity of fish

pens and fish cages and firmly keep an eye on the 1996 Zoning and Management Plan (ZOMAP)

to guarantee maintainable aquaculture in Laguna de Bay and those businessmen who will

infringe the existing rules and regulations on fish pens and fish cages operation will be reported.

25
 On June 29, with the help and participation of the Federation of Fish Pen and Fish Cage

Operators of Laguna de Bay, the LLDA continued the breaking down operation and cleared 300

hectares of illegal structures. By December they will be able to reduce the number of fish pens to

9,200 hectares and hopefully, this will increase the tilapia and bangus production in the lake.

In the information provided by the researchers, the one year moratorium of fish pens and

fish cages should have started in an earlier year. Considering the fact that there was a decline in

different sectors such as the number of registered fish pens and fish cages operators from the

year 2000 to 2006, the total fishery production from 1990 to 2012 and the import and export

value of fish and fishery products. The researchers take the stand that the Resolution No. 518

creates a downfall in the fishing industry but since the moratorium will only exceed for one year,

(unless it will be extended by the government), this will only serve as a way of rehabilitating the

lake from being congested due to the abundant numbers of fish pens and fish cages.

The issue regarding the Laguna Lake was mentioned by President Rodrigo Duterte during

his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 2016. According to Manila Bulletin (2017),

President Duterte sees the lake filled with pens each time he flew to Davao, which made him

think of the poor fishermen who depended on the lake for their livelihood. In his SONA, he also

called for the clearing of the lake together with the action to stop watershed destruction and lake

pollution.

When President Duterte declared the moratorium, a fisher folk organization asked the

government regarding the alternatives that they would be giving them. According to Enano

(2017), the Alyansa ng mga Pederasyong Kumikilos sa Lawa ng Laguna was the one who raised

the question. The alliance said that it was “a blanket order” that covered even small fish cages as

26
well as structures for kangkong (water spinach) farms. The group’s spokesperson, Teofilo

Mamplata, emphasized that the government wasn’t able to clarify the processes behind the

demolition of the lake structures. Mamplata (as stated in Enano, 2017) said that the government

started without considering the families who rely on the lake for food and livelihood. According

to the alliance, around 24,000 fishermen will be affected if all fish pens in the freshwater would

be removed. However, in an earlier press conference, the DENR assured the fishermen that the

clearing operations would not affect them badly.

Mayuga (2017) said that on May 2017, DENR Secretary Gina Lopez was rejected by the

Commission of Appointments as DENR Chief and was replaced by Roy Cimatu., the “Zero Fish

Pen Policy” was set aside for a while but by June 29, the plans and operations on the clearing of

fish pens and fish cages were resumed. As of August 2017, LLDA claimed that 2,000 hectares of

bamboo poles sticking out of the lake surface have been possibly cleared from Laguna Lake but

the remaining 10,000 hectares of the lake are still cluttered with them, which still causes

difficulties for fishermen in finding their way around and between the hundreds of fish pens and

thousands of fish cages.

According to Medina (as stated in Mayuga, 2017), business permits will be rationalized,

priority will be given to small fishers, as ordered by the President, and aquaculture will resume

operations starting next year. In addition to that, more areas will be reserved for small fishers

who hopes to venture in aquaculture with a small help coming from the government. According

to Medina, 60 percent or 5,520 hectares out of the total 9,200 areas for fish-pen and fish-cage

operations in Laguna de Bay would be put to the side for the small fishers while the remaining

40 percent (3,680 hectares) will be given to corporations and cooperatives.

27
 In line with that, Philippine News Agency (2017) stated that the LLDA is looking onto

the possibility of organizing them into corporation-like fishing cooperatives that’ll operate there.

Medina said that “corporatizing” aquaculture is a marriage of corporate and cooperative, as

stated in Mayuga (2017). The LLDA will ask the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to

help small fishers form their own cooperative, if necessary, and administer it like a corporation.

Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has agreed

to help by providing loans for the fishers start-up capital of up to P50,000. In an initial count

made by the LLDA, there are around 22,000 fishers.

Medina (as stated in Mayuga, 2017) said that these measures are aligned with the 1987

constitution and is aimed on helping improve the competitiveness and socio-economic condition

of the small fisher folks. The 1987 constitution states that all lands of the public domain, waters,

minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy, fisheries, forests

or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are owned by the State. The state

shall protect the rights of subsistence of fishermen, especially of local communities, to the

preferential use of the communal marine and fishing resources, both inland and offshore. It is

also said there that the state shall provide support to such fishermen through appropriate

technology and research, adequate financial, production, and marketing assistance, and other

services. Javier (2017), stated that Medina clarified that the real purposes of this ban were to 1)

rationalize the use of the lake water resources to ensure their long-term productivity, and 2) to

protect the rights of subsistence fishermen to the preferential use of communal marine and

fishing resources, as provided in Section 7 of Article XIII of the Constitution.

28
 CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The above analysis regarding the one-year ban on the fish pens and fish cages in the

fishing industry of Laguna de Bay generated the following findings. Firstly, Laguna de Bay is a

huge source of fisheries in the Philippines and the decline in their fishing industry affects the

livelihood of fishermen in Laguna lake since a lot of them, especially the subsistence fishers,

relies primarily on fishing to feed their families and relatives.

Secondly, the moratorium on fish pens and fish cages have yielded a somehow positive

result on small scale fishers since the government is now giving more priority to them compared

before. There would be more areas set aside for their use and the government is willing to

provide some help for small fishermen who want to venture on aquaculture. Big fishing

industries still have areas granted to them but permits would be rationalized to avoid further

congestion within the lake which would hinder its rehabilitation.

Thirdly, the proliferations of fish pens and fish cages have caused the deterioration of the

Lake’s health which also affects the fish production and the fishing industry, overall. Through

the ban implemented, the government, especially the Laguna Lake Development Authority

(LLDA), is hoping to reduce the congestion by lessening and dismantling the illegal structures

and regulating the permits given for fish cage and fish pen operations in order to restore the

ecological balance of the once healthy and economically productive lake.

29
 The future researchers of this topic should be updated regarding recent studies and news

on this issue. A careful analysis should also be observed, as well as having more data coming

from primary resources not just secondary, to have a more reliable and informative paper.

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