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Benjie Telleron - AHN News Writer
Manila, Philippines (AHN) - The Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), overseer of the Philippines' largest freshwater body, on Tuesday called on all local executive chiefs of the cities and municipalities surrounding the Laguna Lake to take drastic steps to stop its worsening condition after it has been tagged as the "world's largest septic tank."

During a meeting for the Public Disclosure of Local Government Units Environmental Governance, LLDA General Manager Ed Manda said that around 68 to 70 percent of the pollution load of Laguna Lake comes from domestic waste.

He said the National Housing Authority (NHA) allocated 70 hectares along the coastline of Laguna Lake for the resettlement program for the displaced settlers in Metro Manila.

However, Manda said that to date, around 500 hectares have already been occupied by squatters.

"80 percent of the domestic waste dumped in Laguna Lake comes from informal settlers, hence the need to relocate them" Manda said as he proposed to the mayors that the informal settlers be demolished along the lake.

Manda added that Barangay Manggahan in Pasig City has the biggest number of squatters in the lake and they are now working closely with the local mayor in the city to solve the problem.

Another big problem is the numbers of fishpens illegally constructed within the lake.

"Fish pen owners used pellets, a chemical-based substance to feed the fish, which aggravates the pollution of the lake."

Manda revealed that although some big industrial companies also contribute to the lake's pollution, they abide by the orders of the LLDA once they are warned.

"We don't encounter much problems with the big industrial companies," Manda said. "So, far, they have been cooperative with our agency."

Manda said, with their strict compliance of the Environmental User Fee System, a marked decrease was observed in the pollution loading of the lake coming from the industrial sector.

The LLDA chief also warned all local executive chiefs that the agency will make public all local government units (LGUs) not complying with the Solid Waste Management Act (SWMA).

The LLDA's Public Disclosure Program is aimed at giving recognition to LGU's commendable effort in environmental governance and lashed at those LGUs who are not complying with the SWMA.

Source - AHN