For years, floating fish cages were set up indiscriminately in Taal Lake, causing pollution in the country's third largest lake. In July 2008, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto created the Task Force Taal Lake to spearhead the fish cage dismantling and regulating activities.
After one and a half years of operations, the Task Force Taal Lake has dismantled over 5,000 illegal fish pens in Taal Lake.
"For the first time, this year, walang fish kill ang Taal! Up to this day, so I'm proud of it. Hindi naging madali [ang proseso]. It will affect me, yes, pero later on they will appreciate it," said Governor Vi with confidence when she met with members of the Movie Writers and Press Photographers Association of the Philippines last March 19.
Fish kill refers to a significant and sudden death of fish, which is an indicator of a dying lake.
As the elections draw near, her decision to crack down on illegal fish cages has made her unpopular among Batangas residents, especially those who were thrown out of work because of the dismantling of fish pens in the area.
Governor Vi is fully aware of this risk but she is willing to stand by her decision to clean up Taal Lake.
"Yung pagre-regulate ng Taal, actually, actually sabi nila it's affecting me now, kasi siyempre may pinatanggal ako mga illegal na fish cages dun, may aalma't aalma, may tataaman. Sabi nila, 'maaapektuhan ka niyan sa eleksyon,' sabi ko, 'its okay' basta ang importante sa akin, siguro they won't appreciate it now but later on."
But the incumbent Batangas governor stressed that the local government is offering alternative livelihood for cage operators who were displaced by the Task Force Taal Lake.
She explained the rationale for her cage dismantling campaign.
"Kasi dapat ang Taal Lake linisin ang tubig at ayusin. Nandiyan ang isda, nag-su-supply ito [ng tilapia] sa Manila. Ang lawa ng Taal para sa mangingisda, hindi dapat mapunta sa banyaga—inyo 'yan. Kung may makikinabang niyan, kayo at hindi yung mga Koreano na naglalagay ng business diyan, dapat diyan open fishing, kayo ang kumuha. Kayo ang kumuha ng mga isda ninyo at saka niyo ibenta bilang parte ng inyong kabuhayan.
"[Sa ngayon kasi], magtatayo ng fish pens yung mga banyaga, mga Koreano, pero ang Batangeño natin trabahador? Parang hindi yata tama!
"Siyempre may resistance, pero kung meron man akong iwan legacy, 'yang Taal, iiwan ko yan nang maayos ang Lawa ng Taal," declared Governor Vi.
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