The Iloilo City government’s three-month fishing moratorium in the Iloilo River is, on paper, commendable. Protecting spawning grounds during peak breeding season is sound science, and giving bulgan and other native species a chance to replenish is the kind of responsible stewardship long overdue in many of our waterways. But while the moratorium may bring temporary relief, it barely scratches the surface of what the Iloilo River truly needs. The enemies of the river are not the hook-and-line anglers who line its banks. The real threats are far bigger, far more complex, and far more deeply rooted in the day-to-day operations of a rapidly urbanizing city.

The Iloilo River’s real enemies are still unchecked [Opinion]. (2025, November 20). Panay News, p. 6.