Destruction of mangroves in Ivisan manmade, says Mayor
IVISAN, Capiz – Mayor Felipe Yap said that the mangrove plantation in his town was not affected by pest infestation but by manmade destructions.
According to him, illegal cutting of mangrove tress are rampant in Brgy. Cudian going to the sea where Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) granted Fishpond Lease Agreement (FLAs) to one person.
“We are not affected with mangrove infestation but illegal cutting that caused flash flood in this town,” Yap lamented.
He added that some 50 hectares of FLAs had been granted by BFAR even without consulting the Local Government Units (LGUs) which according to him affected some 33 fisher folk along the riverbanks.
He said that out of 50 hectares FLAs, 9 hectares had been encroached and even closed river banks’ water ways to the sea causing flashfloods.
The Ivisan mayor also said that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered the demolition of those fishponds encroaching the river however, as of press time it was never realized.
“We are questioning the wisdom of the BFAR in granting the FLAs to one person,” he added.
Earlier, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) Dionesio Molina reported that coastal towns in the province of Capiz had been affected by mangrove infestation.
The report of mangrove infestation was confirmed by Panay Mayor Dante Bermejo and Pontevedra Mayor Steve Contreras.
Panay town has 500 hectares mangrove plantation while Pontevedra has 300 hectares.
Panay town, a two-time winner of the Gawad Pangulo Sa Kapaligiran (GPK) in the regional level has its mangrove plantation as tourist attraction which is one of the reasons why it won the award.
Mangroves are proven effective barriers against tropical storms and strong wave action. It is also an absorber of pollution from both air and water.
Likewise, it is a fish sanctuary and protects the area from soil erosion and destruction due to tsunami and strong current of water.