Camiguin giant clam raisers share success story to Liloan

CEBU, Philippines - In a protected marine area in Liloan town yesterday, Anita Cordero and some members of the town's Bantay Dagat jumped off the motorboat to begin their search for taklobo or giant clams.

Several minutes after, Anita surfaced showing one living giant clam the size of six to seven inches. The team found some more under the water, but they were already dead.

Anita and sister Alona, who chairs the Cantaan Centennial Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CCMPC) – a nominee for the fifth Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. Triennial Awards – came all the way from Barangay Cantaan, Guinsiliban town in Camiguin to share to Liloan locals how they protect and propagate giant clams back home.

The RAFI Triennial Awards is the premier service and humanitarian award in the Visayas and Mindanao, which recognize the philanthropic, humanitarian, and holistic efforts of individuals and institutions in enhancing the quality of life of various groups and communities.

Alona said that if Liloan decides to replicate the same project, people in the municipality should participate in conserving their coasts through a better coastal resource management program.

She said the giant clams conservation program in Cantaan helped their community become financially sustainable and dependent from its local government unit.

"Money cannot be eaten kun wala na ang clams," Alona said.

Alona said they were able to help 94 households in the barangay following the project's conception.

Alona said the clam sanctuary in Cantaan has become one of the tourist destinations in Camiguin. The conservation project has become an eco-tourism site which attracts tourist to snorkel and dive in the clam sanctuary and ocean nursery.

Anita, who manages CCMPC, said the conservation project serves as an alternative livelihood to the people in Cantaan. The people receive a monthly honorarium, depending on their work and attendance. Members' honorarium ranges from P1,000 to P3,000.

The kids of Cantaan also receive P35 to P50 when they monitor and clean the clams during weekends and summer vacations.

Anita urged the Liloanons to protect the living clams from the strong currents to help them propagate.

Rolando Tabuñag, Liloan municipal environment and natural resources officer, assured that the government and people of Liloan will help in the conservation of its coastal areas and the organisms living in it.

"We commit ourselves, the municipality, the Bantay Dagat… that we will conserve our giant clams and marine sanctuary," Tabuñag said. — (FREEMAN)