Qu e z o n
City, Philippines—
Fisherfolks led
by the Rizal Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources
Management Council
(FARMC) filed a formal
complaint today to suspend reclamation activities in Laguna De Bay.
Groups including
the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
(PMCJ), Sanlakas Rizal,
and the Alliance of Unified People’s Organization in Lupang Arenda
(APOLA) joined the protest held in front of the
Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA)
national office.
In their letter, the
fisherfolk expressed
that they should have
been included in discussions about these reclamation projects. Their
demands to the LLDA
include an investigation
on the reclamation activities and a disclosure
of its results, the issuance of a cease-and-desist order of reclamation projects during said
investigation, and the
rehabilitation of affected areas.
“Ang daming reklamasyon sa lawa na hindi
namin alam para saan.
Pero iisa ang tiyak – kaming mga mangingisda
ang talo kapag nagtuloy-tuloy ang mga ganitong proyekto. Sa pagliit
ng espasyo na pwede
naming pangisdaan, lumiliit din ang ang aming
kabuhayan,” said Sonny
San Jose, Chairman of
Rizal FARMC.
The complaint culminated from mounting concerns over the
continuing reclamation
projects across Laguna
Lake. Among the affected areas are Taytay, Binangonan, and Angono,
where fisherfolk struggle with significantly restricted fishing spaces.
“Land reclamation
has long-term effects on
the lake’s ecosystem. By
extension, this affects
the lives of the fisherfolk
and communities who
are part of this ecosystem. This threatens their
water supply, food, and
livelihood. Kapag tinambakan ang lawa, tayo ang
kawawa.,” lamented Aaron Pedrosa, counsel for

the affected fisherfolk
and Secretary-General
of Sanlakas.
Ian Rivera, National Coordinator of PMCJ,
spoke more on the implications on the climate
emergency, “Flooding
will also worsen as more
of the lake is converted
to land. The natural role
of the lake as a catch
basin will be affected.
This impact should have
been demonstrated if
the Environmental Impact Statement was conducted. With the climate
crisis bringing stronger storms and heavier
rains, this can only mean
disaster for the people
living around the lake.”
Currently, there
are around 22 reclamation projects planned
throughout Laguna
Lake, despite a mandate
to protect the lake and
a suspension order on
said reclamation. This
has affected more than
13,000 fisherfolk in
Rizal, Laguna, and Metro Manila who depend
on the lake to sustain
their families. At least
five large-scale projects
have been approved,
including the Pasig River Expressway Project
(PAREX).
“Dekada na naming inilalaban ang aming karapatan sa lupa
dito sa Lupang Arenda.
Hanggang ngayon ay tila
hinaharang ng LLDA ang
katuparan nito, kesyo
mababa raw ang aming
lugar at di angkop tirahan ng tao. Pero panay
naman ang pagpayag
nila sa mga proyekto
gaya ng PAREX na makakasama sa lawa at sa
tao,” said Enteng Barlos,
President of APOLA of
Taytay, one of the directly affected communities
of PAREX.
Per the complaint,
an official response
from LLDA should be issued within 7 business
days. FARMC and groups
opposed to the reclamation hope for a swift end
to the projects so that
Laguna Lake and its surrounding communities
can thrive.