ALAMINOS CITY–The population of giant clams at the Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) has increased enormously from an original stock of only 10, prompting the local government to move these to another location.

City Mayor Hernani Braganza said the presence of thousands of clams has become one of the main attractions in the park and is considered vital in reviving biodiversity in the waters around the islands.

The ecosystem around the HINP was at serious risk when the number of coral reefs depleted.

The transfer has been made as one of the events in this year’s Gali-la Hundred Islands Festival that kicked off on March17.

The clams were propagated on an experimental basis under a project handled by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), the Philippine Tourism Authority, under then President Fidel Ramos.

From 10 species, the giant clam population is now at 5,550.

“Science is now telling us that the distance between one clam to another should be one by one meter so that is what we’re trying to accomplish now,” the mayor said.

“So in terms of propagation, they are now reproducing so that’s good news but we really have to transfer them because they are now congested in some areas,” Braganza said.

The local government has tapped a group of divers to help in the “giant task” of moving the clams, which weigh from 20 to 30 kilos each. #

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments