The Valenzuela City Council has approved an ordinance requiring fishpond owners to construct appropriate earth dikes in their business structures.

Councilor and Liga ng Barangay (LnB) president Alvin Feliciano said that the ordinance seeks to minimize flooding in the city streets by preventing the overflow of water from fishponds during heavy rains.

Studies showed that one of the major causes of flooding in the city during rainy season is due to overflowed fishponds as they are the natural conduits of rivers located in the locality.

The ordinance, entitled “Earth Dike/Pilapil Ordinance,” will also require fishponds situated near national highways to install earth dikes within a minimum distance of one meter from the road.

It also requires them to construct earth dikes that comply with the minimum height requirement of 20 feet from the fishpond's waterbed.

Those with existing land barriers must also comply with the required height with fishpond operators found violating the ordinance to be penalized with a fine of P3,000 for the first offense; 2nd offense – P5,000; and 3rd offense – P5,000.

After the third offense, violators will be given warning that another violation could result in a lawsuit and suspension of their license to operate aside from possible imprisonment.

Tasked to implement the ordinance were the Office of the Mayor, Mayor's Action Force, City Business Permit and Licensing Office, barangay offices, and the engineering office.

Feliciano urged all fishpond owners operating within the city to cooperate with the authorities.