DAGUPAN CITY – At least 114 illegal structures were demolished by the City Agriculture Office since September 17 as part of the ongoing river clean up following the two-week deadline given by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez.
City Agriculturist Emma J. Molina disclosed that of the total, 72 were over-sized floating cages and 42 were fish pens measuring more than 50 square meters. All these were operated and maintained by 103 operators who are at the same time caretakers of these structures.
There are just more than 30 fish pens that remained to be demolished pending resolution on whether or not these areas are parts of titled properties claimed by different owners although still within rivers.
Overall, the city has already demolished a total of 942 illegal structures since Fernandez ordered the massive clearing of rivers of illegal structures since assuming mayor in July 2013.
On the other hand, upon the request of Molina, Mayor Fernandez has given the Bantay Ilog Task Force one more week to finish the demolition of all illegal structures in the rivers. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Sept. 13, 2017)
