Duterte orders demoition of fish cages at Matina Aplaya due to pollution

DAVAO CITY, Oct 7 (PIA) Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the offices of the City Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 11 to demolish the fish cages at the Matina Aplaya area which continue to operate despite the existing ban due to water pollution.

Speaking in the public affairs program, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” he said it behooves upon these agencies to implement the ban that remains in effect since the administration of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Duterte said these agencies can tap the assistance of the Maritime Police to enforce the law.

“The critical issue here is the bacterial infection which is dangerous to public health” he stressed.

Duterte said local businessmen may have invested money in the cages, but with the harmful effects brought about by the bacteria and oxidation, the fish cages have to be demolished.

He said he will not withdraw the Executive Order issued by the younger Duterte since it is designed to protect public health.

“We are trying to protect the health of the people,” Duterte pointed out.

In August 2012, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio stopped the operations of the fish cultivation in Punta Dumalag, Matina Aplaya following the findings that it was unfit for fish cultivation.

Several studies conducted by the Department of Science and Technology 11 by water sampling and specimen sampling from the milkfish in the area showed that the fish cages had high content of coliform and pathogens like Escherichia Coli or E. Coli from human and animal waste.

E. Coli can cause flu-like symptoms like nausea, fever and diarrhea with a high-level of exposure that causes irritation of the skin, eyes, ears and throat. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)