Aquaculture farms for mussels and oysters are among the structures that will be dismantled by the government by the government as part of the Manila Bay rehabilitation program, which would affect the livelihood of some 15,000 fishers and coastal residents, according to a fishers group. “Rehabilitating Manila Bay should be to restore its marine resources for the benefit of small fisherfolk. But the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) thrust says otherwise,” said the head of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ang Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) group. “The government’s rehabilitation program has brought fear among the fishing and coastal population because its aim is to actually destroy our livelihood and displace us from communities,” PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson Fernando L. Hicap said during a protest held at the DENR office in Quezon City on Monday.

Ochave, R. M. D. (2021, September 7). Mussel, oyster farmers to lose livelihood in Manila Bay rehab. BusinessWorld, p. S1/11.