I NEVER BLAMED GOV. VI FOR FISH KILL!

Let’s be very clear, boys and girls.

I AM NOT BLAMING Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos for the fish kill that had struck the province. I never did and before anyone accuses me of such, that person had better READ FIRST all my preceding blogs on the issue and see for himself or herself.

I don’t work for any CONFIRMED OR PERCEIVED opponent of Santos-Recto, as MALICIOUSLY AND BASELESSLY alleged by someone who didn’t even have THE GUTS to identify himself or herself, and anybody can verify this anytime, anywhere,

I’m only asking VITAL QUESTIONS related to the fish kill which have been UNANSWERED SO FAR, like why have there been NO REPORTS OF CHARGES FILED against owners of illegal fish pens and why not even one owner has been named up to now. Another thing – why are Batangas officials seemingly helpless against illegal fish pens, which keep on coming back?

I am NOT SAYING that Santos-Recto is not a working, or a hard-working governor. I have come out with an anonymous defense of the governor in this blog, even if I had declared before that I will no longer come out wit anonymous comments.

So before anyone else speaks up, READ FIRST my previous blogs and try to remember what COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY MEANS.

***

An anonymous but obvious defender of Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto posted six news reports in our blogspot on what she has done so far since the fish kill in the province.

I had stated before that I will no longer come out with anonymous comments. But in the interest of fairness, this will be an exception.

These are the salient points of the news reports:

Santos Recto formed and dispatched various teams to assist local government units affected by the fish kill in Taal Lake on May 26-27. Two backhoes and several dump trucks were dispatched to Talisay, Laurel and Agoncillo.

My reply: I stand corrected, but not totally, on what I had written in our preceding blog that she has been unusually quiet and there has been no known direct order by her on how to deal with the fish kill.

Not totally because the news reports did not belie what I also wrote that she has not been seen in the areas affected by the fish kill.

Santos-Recto said the dismantling of illegal fish pens in Taal Lake has been the local government’s endeavor for three years, and that“I’m proud to say na libo na din ang aming natanggal na fish pens diyan.”

But as I had written, the news reports DID NOT IDENTIFY even one illegal fish pen owner and what charges, if any, had been filed against that person by Batangas officials.

As I had also cited in our blog “Corruption in Batangas fish kill,” what makes the names of the illegal fish pen owners SO SPECIAL? If indeed thousands of illegal fish pens have been dismantled in Taal Lake, how come there are still a lot?

What makes Santos-Recto, and all concerned Batangas officials, HELPLESS against the illegal fish pens? The news reports didn’t answer this.

Santos-Recto had earlier warned against overfishing in Taal Lake and ordered the reduction of fish pens there. Yet, neither government functionaries nor fish pen owners – heeded her warning, according to the news reports.

So what did she do about it? Did she ask for help from anyone or anybody? If yes, whom did she approach, when and what happened?

If no, then Ate Vi will have a lot of explaining to do.

***

EFREN CORDERO PIMENTEL of Silang, Cavite

Government leaders of Batangas, please avoid involving Chinese nationals in business in Taal Lake. Enough of the Chinese greedi and unconcern for the environment. Please ban them - -they will become your worst nightmare. Good strategic development interventions should be considered for Taal Lake, like the following: Updated research on the capacity for fish pens, a local policy framework, regular monitoring systems for the quality of the water and intensified environmental education.

JING SEGISMUNDO

During her first term, dismantling of illegal (fish) cages were done thru Task Force Taal Lake. Even up to this time, inventory of cages are being done. We have other national agencies included in the task force -- DENR and BFAR to name a few. And they know that what the Governor wanted since the start is to regulate the number of fish cages in the lake. She is in constant communication with the mayors whose jurisdiction includes that of the lakeshore. Tthey know the Gov's stand when it comes to the cages, that they have to follow strictly the allowed number in their areas. Do not put the blame on the Governor. It is, in fact, in her term that the dismantling of cages took place. You can visit our Batspio FB account to check on what she has done so far.

JOE BOY VERA

The anonymous defender is clearly evading the issue of command responsibility by finger pointing and citing occurrence of similar incidents. Whereas it is clearly established that the cause is man- made, out of greed and could have been prevented if only the government offices concerned, including the Office of the Governor, were responsible enough to do their jobs.

EDWIN ZABARTE

Sir, with due respect:

Ang may responsibilidad ng municipal waters around Taal Lake ay local government units. Sila po ang nag-issue ng permits sa mga fish pen operators before Gov. Santos Recto became governor.Then, sa kaniyang term ay binuo ang Task Force Taal Lake to oversee the condition ng lawa and regulate ang number of fish pens. Nag start ang operations ng task force on June 12, 2009. The provincial government, together with the DENR, BFAR, PNP, Philippine Coast Guard and NGOs like Tanggol Kalikasan ay nag conduct ng operations clearing the lake of illegal fish pens/cages.. May documents and proof/ materials kami na magpapatunay diyan. We were about to clear the lake of its 1200 illegal cages. Nag-advise ang provincial government sa mga fish pen operators na walang permit to voluntarily dismantle ang kanilang illegal structure before May 31. Ninety-day extension ang hiningi ng mga operators.dahil yun daw ang kanilang time para sa full harvest growth ng kanilang isda.. Both parties agreed. If hindi maharvest after the deadline, the TF will take action and kakasuhan ang mga ilegal fish pen operators and confiscation ng kanilang fish cage materials, including the fish inside the cages.. Then, nagkaroon ng fish kil. TF Taal Lake ay seryoso in getting rid of those illegal structures before the fish kill so hindi po accurate na ma accuse kami ng corruption dito.

DOC C ELEDA PERA of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

I think Gov. Vi really needs to explain about that thing. Sobrang dami na ng affected ng fish kill na iyan.

ESTHER UY-OCO of Oceanside, California, USA

Something is wromg. Bakit ngayon lang iyan (naexpose). Bakit dami diyang Chinese? We don’t need them. Ang daming Pilipinong mangingisda.

DELIA SANIDAD of Santiago, Ilocos Sur

Command responsibility dictates that the Governor has to be on top of what's going on in her turf.

MARLENE HOWE of Tacoma, Washington, USA

I read In the news last year about Gov. Vi's efforts to dismantle all fish pens in Taal (Lake). But if it’s the people whose intentions are to put them up everytime they’re dismantled it's a hard job to monitor. The Governor is ultimately responsible since she is the head of the province. But we also need to punish severely those who broke and refused to follow the law. 30