50 giant clams tested in Batangas waters
BATANGAS, Philippines –ONE MORNING in late May, 50 giant clams from Bolinao town in Pangasinan arrived in Batangas City after a nine-hour road trip for a seeding project designed to make local waters more conducive to marine life.
The bivalves (Tridacna gigas), locally called “higanteng taklobo,” were brought to Sitios Silangan Uno and Dos in Barangay Ilijan by power plant operator Kepco Ilijan Corp. (Keilco) and its partner, Apercu Consultants Inc.
Keilco is a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corp. (Kepco), which uses natural gas from the Malampaya gas fields in Palawan, while Apercu provides services that include environmental impact assessment, initial environmental examination, and environmental performance report and management plan.
Lilli Beth Yazon, managing director of Apercu. said each of the seeded clams measured 40 centimeters and weighed 10 kilos. They were bought at P3,000 apiece in Bolinao, she said.
“Since the species came from a long travel, saltwater was first poured on the boxes containing the taklobo,” she said.
Village orientation
The villagers were oriented on the taklobo and how it functions to filter wastes that settle at the bottom of the sea to improve the habitat of sea creatures.
“The shells of the taklobo are good as habitat for sponges, tunicates, corals and algae,” Yazon said.
In 2003, 50 giant clams were planted in Ilijan, according to Joselito Cortes, manager of the environment and chemical department of Keilco. Of this number, 23 survived, one was poached in 2004, while the others died after a 2006 typhoon.
Those that survived grew from 40 cm to 100 cm.
Marine biologists and scientists cited the seeding site near the power plant as among the most beautiful coral reefs in the Philippines, Cortes said. It is also a habitat of the endangered Hawksbill turtle.
Cortes said the giant clams could indicate how clean the water is in the plant. “If they survive here, it means that we are not polluting the environment. At the same time, we are enhancing the reef system of Ilijan,” he said.
To sustain the species, the company hired environment consultants to monitor the reef systems every six months.
“The reef needs this kind of species. We did not seed in 2006 (after the typhoon) as those which survived must be allowed to grow first,” Cortes said.
He said a five-year relief must be observed from the last seeding, pointing out that if the site was seeded immediately after the original growths were destroyed, the new ones could also die.
Eddie Cepillo, barangay chief of Ilijan, recalled that when giant clams were planted in 2003, the number of fish multiplied.
He said the local council had passed a resolution in March declaring Ilijan waters as a marine protected area and it was still awaiting recognition by environment authorities.
Lorna Isagunde, 48, a resident and high school teacher, said the fisherfolk had been enjoying a bountiful fish harvest, especially “galunggong,” since the seeding project was undertaken.
Bantay Dagat and village patrols have been protecting the area from cyanide fishing, Cortes said.
Hwa-Yeon Hwang, vice president and plant manager of Kepco, said he was proud of the villagers because of their commitment to guard the marine species and sanctuary.
