DA eyes Pangasinan as fish supply source

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is tapping Pangasinan as an alternative fish supply source as the government starts the dismantling of fish pens at the Laguna Lake.

“We are trying to look at areas that would fill-in the void that we expect would occur the moment the government implements the dismantling of fish pens in Laguna de Bay,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said.

“The province of Pangasinan will definitely come into place because of its strategic location and its reputation for high quality produce,” he added.

President Duterte had earlier directed the demolition of fishpens as part of the government’s goal to ease congestion and prioritize small fisher folks in the area.

This is expected to affect supply as Laguna Lake fishpens are the source of close to 40 percent of the fish requirements of Metro Manila.

“Huge volume will be affected that’s why we have to project early what our options would be,” the agri chief said.

Aside from Pangasinan, the DA is also considering the Zambales area toward Panatag Shoal as well as the Quezon province.

Fishpens in the area cover almost 13,000 hectares while the ideal carrying capacity of Laguna Lake is around 9,000 hectares only.

Data showed that there are over 1,000 legitimate fishpen operators in Laguna Lake while unregistered operators number to about 2,200.

Furthermore, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) will jumpstart the conversion of the lake into an ecotourism zone this year.

The LLDA is already looking into 10 pilot areas in the east zone in cooperation with the Departments of Tourism and Trade and Industry, Office of the President and the local government units.