The fishers stressed that the mayor is obliged to process their permits, that police power cannot override rights, and that the LGU’s refusal is meant to clear the way for reclamation projects.

BULACAN – Members of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya)-Navotas asked the Navotas Regional Trial Court (RTC) on August 27 to reconsider the dismissal of their petition against the city government’s refusal to issue permits for mussel farms and fish traps. The group said that the denial is unlawful and is meant to clear their communities for the Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation Project.

In June 2024, the Navotas RTC dismissed the petitions filed by affected residents against the demolition of mussel farms in the city. In response, the residents, together with Pamalakaya-Navotas, filed a motion for reconsideration before the court, seeking to overturn the decision.

The Navotas Coastal Bay Reclamation Project, also known as the Navotas Boulevard Business Park, is a 650-hectare land reclamation initiative in Manila Bay being implemented by the Navotas City government in partnership with Argonbay Construction Company, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC). The project envisions a mixed-use development but has become controversial due to its adverse impacts on the environment, livelihood, and coastal communities.

More than 200 mussel farms were demolished last year on orders of Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco, leaving around 1,000 fish workers without their main source of livelihood. The demolition began in March 2024, covering over six kilometers in length and three kilometers in width of mussel farms.

The case lists as respondents Tiangco, the City Council, and the Business Permits and Licensing Office.

The RTC earlier dismissed the case, saying the issuance of permits falls under the local government’s police power and is beyond judicial review, while also ruling that mandamus was not the proper remedy. However, fishers and their counsels from Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA) countered that the LGU’s outright refusal to accept their permit applications, despite their full compliance with requirements, was unlawful and a violation of due process.

“The city government should accept and process our permits for mussel farms. By continuously denying them, they are depriving us of our livelihood and clearly paving the way for the reclamation project,” said Romel Escarial, president of Pamalakaya-Navotas and one of the petitioners.

In their motion, the fishers stressed that the mayor is obliged to process their permits, that police power cannot override rights, and that the LGU’s refusal is meant to clear the way for reclamation projects.

Fisherfolk staged a program outside the Navotas RTC to call for immediate action on their motion.

“We urge the Navotas RTC to stand with the fisherfolk and revisit the just grounds of our petition. We call on all fishers to unite in asserting our right to fishing grounds and to stop these destructive reclamation projects,” Escarial said.

The Navotas City Agriculture Office issued a notice ordering the removal of mussel farms and fish traps, deeming them illegal structures for lack of permits. The order also invoked a 2008 Supreme Court ruling directing government agencies to “clean up, rehabilitate, and preserve Manila Bay.” (AMU, DAA)