After issuing a final warning to all fish pen operators last month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) began dismantling fish pens and fish cages in Laguna de Bay on Thursday. In his first address to Congress last year, Mr. Duterte ordered the dismantling of big fish pens and fish cages in Laguna de Bay to allow small fishermen to gain access to their traditional fishing grounds. A fish-pen operator who requested anonymity said the operators received on Jan. 12 a letter of instruction signed by former LLDA General Manager Nereus Acosta telling them to demolish their structures by themselves.

Pazzibugan, D., Aurelio, J. M., & Cinco, M. (2017, January 27). Gov’t starts dismantling fish pens in Laguna de Bay. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A12.