GMANews.TV: Cavite poor cries foul over demolition of fish pens in Manila Bay

Cavite poor cries foul over demolition of fish pens in Manila Bay
08/27/2008 | 08:47 PM

MANILA, Philippines - Urban poor residents along the coastal towns of Cavite province have threatened to hold protest actions against the demolition of fish pens and cages in Manila Bay by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

In a statement, the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Maralita ng Cavite (Sanagca) said small fishermen in Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta and Cavite City are bound to lose their livelihood with the ongoing cleaning up of the bayside by the DENR and the provincial government.

It also said that thousands of residents, particularly in Longos village in Bacoor, will also lose their homes if the DENR operation continues.

“We call on the national government to declare a ‘ceasefire’ on all demolitions in the country in general and in Cavite province in particular while the nation is in the midst of an acute economic crisis and the government cannot even provide food and shelter to millions of its people,” the group said.

Sanagca chairperson Tonette Fajanilan said the protests will be in the form of marches and human barricades.

“During these times of crisis it would be very inhuman for government to deny hungry people not only their food but also their shelter,” Fajanilan said.

The DENR and the Cavite provincial government started Wednesday morning to dismantle illegal fish pens and cages dotting the Cavite side of Manila Bay.

Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who witnessed the start of the clearing operation, said this is in part of the government’s effort to rehabilitate the 1,800-square-kilometer bay. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/116485/Cavite-poor-cries-foul-over-demolition-of-fish-pens-in-Manila-Bay