Legal Farmer: When a lawyer falls in love with farming

Legal Farmer: When a lawyer falls in love with farming

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

Nov 24, 2023 04:59 PM 

By Henrylito D. Tacio

In December 2019, Atty. Edwaldo L. Legaspina – more popularly known as Basti among friends – already bought four-and-half hectares of land in Lorega, a barangay of Kitaotao, Bukidnon. 

This lawyer loves to farm. (Henrylito Tacio)

The pandemic happened just a few months later. He was concerned for the safety of his wife and two children. As their movement in Davao City was limited, he brought his whole family to the newly-bought land. 

Farm development

In February 2020, Basti started developing his farm. “Initially, we just wanted to plant vegetables and strawberries,” he recalled. “But when the pandemic struck, we decided to build a home where the kids can roam around, free from any fear of virus transmission." 

The house, which serves as the rest house of the family, is located at the upper portion of the farm. (Henrylito Tacio)

Aside from building a home for his family, he also started developing the farm. “Farming takes away your stress,” he said. “We also want our kids to engage so they may know the value in growing your own food.”

As the farm was being developed, an idea came into fruition. He talked with his wife, Destreza C. Luzon, about it. When she learned about the plan, she fully supported him. “We wanted to share (our farm) with friends and family members so that they and their kids can also enjoy the cold breeze and picturesque view of the place,” he said.

Most people really give a lot of time thinking about what they would call their farm – something that will stick to people when they hear the name. Basti had no problem creating such a name, thanks to his two children.

Happy Farm

“Our kids chose the name,” he said. “When we asked why, they answered that they are so happy whenever they stay on the farm.”

Two years later, The Happy Farm at Lorega has already been transformed into a new haven. But it was easier said than done. “When we started, the road couldn’t accommodate trucks for the construction,” he recalled. “The pandemic also limited our mobility. Luckily, we were able to hurdle these obstacles.”

Happy Farm is located at barangay Lorega in Kitaotao, Bukidnon. (Henrylito Tacio)

It was his brother-in-law who helped build the cottages. All these cottages have their own kitchen, so that occupants can cook their own meals. Kitchen utensils are provided, including stoves. 

“My brother-in law-helped us (in making these cottages),” he said. “We pooled-in ideas and since the family are in the construction field, they realized it. My father-in-law, Juanito, took charge of our water system.”

The good thing about The Happy Farm is that families who stay in one of the cottages can harvest some of the crops being planted. Among the vegetables grown in the farm include tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce, bokchoy, alugbati, tinangkong, and sweet pepper. 

This is one of the crops grown in Happy Farm. (Henrylito Tacio)

“Right now, we have various crops so guests can do vegetable picking with their kids and bring it home,” he said. Of course, they have to pay for what they harvested but it’s the bonding while harvesting that matters the most.

Guests who may opt not to cook their meals can always order food from Hungry Huntley’s Restaurant, which is just below the House in the Hill. The name came from the names of the two children: Edwald Hunter and Elda Huntley.

“As you have observed, our paintings are aimed to please the kids,” Basti said.

On the far end, there is a coffee shop-cum-bar, where parents can hang out and have some coffee or drink some wine and beers. 

Basti said he wants to add 5 more cottages to the 4.5-hectare area. “We want to promote what Lorega can offer to people who come to this place,” he said. “We also want to promote tourism in the place because we have grown to love it.”

The farmer is a lawyer

To think, Basti is not a farmer but rather a lawyer. After graduating from high school at the Assumption School of Davao, he went to Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) and took philosophy.

After graduation, he decided to take up law. “Back then,” he said, “all I wanted was to help my family’s business but as it turned out, there are so many laws that you have to follow and comply with. That made me interested in hopefully becoming a lawyer someday.”

Another reason why he decided to become a lawyer was his “own curiosity in the intricacies and beauty of the profession.”

From his first to third year, he studied at his alma mater, the ADDU. In his fourth year, he transferred to Cor Jesu College in Digos City. He graduated in 2005, took the bar in the same year – and passed!

When asked for his advice to those who want to pursue the law profession, he replied: “Study the law by heart but most importantly, make it a fun and enjoyable one.”

He loves farming

Most lawyers turn into farming when they get old. But Basti is different; even at a young age now, he already starts farming. Thanks to his father, Dodie, who educated him about farming when he was still a little boy.

The lawyer does his own harvesting. (Henrylito Tacio)

The Legaspina family has a farm in Bantol, Marilog District in Calinan, Davao City. He remembered that whenever his father went to the farm, he usually accompanied him.  He had to walk for about two hours just to reach the destination. He was then eight years old.

Even if he had to wake up early in the morning, he didn’t mind it as long as he was able to go to the farm. “I was always excited to go to the farm,” he said. He remembered liking the smell of the burning leaves.

The farm was planted to mango, banana, guyabano, lanzones – mostly fruit trees. When he was in high school, he invited some of his friends to accompany him to the farm. There, they sort of camped at the farm. When his friends went home, they brought with them some fruits harvested from the farm.

Values from farming

During his college days, he still went to the farm to oversee the harvesting of fruits. Some areas of the farm were also planted with vegetables, which his father brought home. “We usually have some fresh vegetables on our table,” he said.

“My father didn’t push me to become a farmer. I was in love with farming,” he pointed out. He cited the case of bananas as a case in point. He said he loved watching it bearing flowers, which later developed into banana hands. He was equally excited when the bunch was cut, and the fruits were taken.

When his father decided to retire from farming and returned to his birthplace in Escalante City in Negros Occidental, Basti decided to buy the farm. His two sisters didn’t object; after all, they were not interested in farming.

“I love farming because I love to touch soil,” Basti admitted. “I love how a plant grows. I am amazed with those.”

He added, “I found out that there are some values in farming that we can apply in real life. I also wish to impart those values to my kids.” 

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

Water is life: How can we sustain our water sources?

It’s either too much water or none at all. That seems to be the gist of the post of former agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol in his social media account.

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

Oct 13, 2023 05:00 PM

  

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By Henrylito D. Tacio

It’s either too much water or none at all. That seems to be the gist of the post of former agriculture secretary Emmanuel Piñol in his social media account.

“For a country which literally is submerged in floodwater during the typhoon season, the Philippines is facing a major crisis which could impact on the lives of the next generation of Filipinos – the lack of water,” Piñol wrote.

You may find this absurd but that is the reality. More ridiculous is that no one, according to Piñol, is paying attention to the problem. “Sadder than this impending disaster is the fact that nobody seems to be concerned about it and that there is no wholistic plan of action to prevent it from happening,” he said.

When Metro Manila suffered a water shortage early this year, there were those who suggested establishing the Department of Water and Water Resources. But when La Mesa Dam was filled with water after a heavy rain, the proposal was completely forgotten.

Water crisis and climate change

Just like climate change, the water crisis should be given the attention it deserves. Dr. Sandra Postel, director of the Massachusetts-based Global Water Policy Project, believes “water problems will be right there with climate change as a threat to the human future.” 

“Water shortages lag only climate change and population growth as a threat to the human future,” Dr. Lester R. Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, echoed the same concern.

“The challenge is not to get enough water to drink, but to get enough water to produce our food,” he told this author in an exclusive interview. “We drink, in one form or another, perhaps 4 liters of water per day. But the food we consume each day requires 2,000 liters of water to produce, or 500 times as much.”

Growing rice is one of the great consumers of water. (Henrylito Tacio)

Agriculture is by far the biggest consumer of water around the world – nearly 70%, according to the United Nation’s 2018 Water Development Report.  “Agriculture is where future water shortages will be most acute,” wrote Michael S. Serrill in the newsweekly Time some years back.

All is not rosy. Higher global temperatures will worsen the current water problems.

“Although the two are related, water has no substitutes. We can transition away from coal and oil to solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. But there is no transitioning away from water to something else,” Postel told Agriculture magazine.

Not yet “water stressed” 

The Philippines is not yet what hydrologists call a “water stressed” nation. That label applies to a country whose annual water supplies drop below 1,700 cubic meters per person. When supplies drop below 1,000 cubic meters per person per year, the country faces water scarcity for all or part of the year.

While the country is still not “water stressed,” it already has areas suffering from water scarcity.  Four river basins – Pampanga, Agno, Pasig-Laguna, and the island of Cebu – are experiencing water scarcity from time to time.

During summer months, many residents of Metro Manila – home to more than 10 million people – are coping with a “water supply crisis.” Metro Cebu in the Visayas and Davao City in Mindanao are already experiencing the same status.

Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Davao, Angeles, Bacolod, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo and Zamboanga were identified by a study done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in 1991 to be “water-critical areas.”

While water supply still outpaces demand, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported: “Water quality has been deteriorating at a considerable rate with the onset of the ‘90s, indicating grave problems ahead.”

The culprits

Surging population, use of water in industries and farming, and the worsening status of our bodies of water like rivers and lakes, are some of the culprits of the problem.  But some pundits believe the primary cause is deforestation.

Soon rivers like this will be gone as trees in the forests are being cut extensively and without reforestation. (Henrylito Tacio)

Cebu, which has no forest cover to speak of, is now dependent on its water source from neighboring Bohol. Other provinces may follow suit soon if residents and government officials overlook this fact.

“Without vegetative cover, especially the trees, the land’s water absorption capacity is greatly reduced,” said one expert. “If the forest perishes, so will the life of people,” commented another.

The question remains: Do trees really produce water?

“You ask an interesting question,” replied Dr. Patrick B. Durst, who was then the regional forestry officer of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Bangkok, when asked by this author.

“As with so many things related to forests and trees, the answer is not simple – certainly not as simple as many people would like to present,” he explained. “In the narrow sense, trees are not a source of water. In fact, as living organisms, trees are substantial consumers of water, particularly when growing healthily. This is why, for example, people sometimes plant fast-growing trees to help drain swamps; the trees consume water and draw down the water level.”

Conversely, water tables sometimes rise when trees are cleared from an area. Studies done at the Coweeta Hydrological Laboratory in North Carolina since 1934 showed “very clearly that there was scope of increased water yield by reducing forest vegetation.”

Water and trees

Water use by trees is also at the heart of the argument of many against the use of eucalyptus. In 1990, an estimated 10 million hectares – approximately one-quarter of tropical forest plantations – were planted with the said tree species. More than half of these were located in tropical Asia, including the Philippines.

Most of the virgin forests in the country are fast disappearing; what remains are mostly second-growth forests . (Henrylito Tacio)

“As a fast-growing species, eucalyptus uses a lot of water and may contribute to a lowering of water tables,” Dr. Durst pointed out. “The same is true of most fast-growing tree species. It seems, not illogically, that you need a lot of water to produce a lot of wood quickly.”

The next question is: What role do trees play in “producing” water?

“The answer is that trees (and more importantly healthy forests) are very important,” Dr. Durst explained. “The main benefit they provide is helping to intercept precipitation and facilitate its infiltration into the soil and ground water storage areas.”

Trees intercept rainfall; the Philippines is blessed with an average annual rainfall of 2.5 meters. But more importantly, healthy forests’ ground cover – composed of organic litter, twigs, small plants and fallen leaves – help trap water and hold it until it has an opportunity to soak into the ground soil.

In addition, roots – whether alive or decaying – provide additional pore space above that of normal soil texture for water to infiltrate into the ground. This is the reason why local springs and streams maintain a healthy flow when surrounded by protected micro-watersheds.

Role of watersheds

Father Pedro Walpole, of the Environment Science for Social Change, Inc., said that in a watershed, there is the interrelation of many resources.  “There are (also) ecological services that a watershed provides such as delivery of water as part of the water cycle, stable land-water dynamics, nutrient cycles, and a diversity of life forms,” he explained.

As such, “watershed management is not just a matter of managing water but of managing the land that delivers the water and coordinating the people in that management,” Fr. Walpole urged.

Watersheds constitute about 75% of the total land area of the Philippines. “Our country has a total of 119 proclaimed and 154 priority watersheds,” the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) said.

Aside from water, watersheds also provide vital resources like soil, forest range, wildlife and minerals.

However, not all of the watersheds in the country are in pristine status, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) discloses. “Some are already affected by deforestation, pollution, and other unsustainable practices of humans, who are oblivious of the potential adverse effects,” it admits. “Climate change, ballooning population, and industrialization exacerbated the hazards to the sustainability of watersheds.”

Managing watersheds

To prevent further degradation on a national scale, PCAARRD convened several government agencies and came up with five steps in managing watersheds with the participation of surrounding communities:

Form a management team: Locals, as primary recipients of benefits of watersheds in the area, are likely to be interested in initiatives protecting their water source.  A watershed project management team composed of at least a team manager and representatives from local government units, non-government organizations, state universities and colleges, and environment officials is formed to be part of the Community Watershed Stewardship Program.

Characterize the watershed: Characterization is done through geographic information system mapping of the watershed, inventory and assessment of timber and water resources, evaluation of land cover and land use, and socio-economic, livelihood, and politico-institutional profiling of the communities and stakeholder analysis.

Assess the watershed’s vulnerability: Environmental hazards are identified and modeled out to illustrate possible impacts to communities.  This will help people visualize what courses of action to take in times of emergency situations, such as disasters.  More so, biophysical and anthropogenic factors as well as pollution sources which increase vulnerability are noted.

Equip watersheds with necessary instruments and conduct real-time monitoring:  In instrumentation and monitoring, five aspects are closely observed, such as stream discharge, water quality, meteorology, biodiversity, and erosion and sediment yield.

Develop an interactive online database for learning watersheds: A web-based watershed management system database contains comprehensive watershed profiles, map compendiums, real-time monitoring and vulnerability assessment system, and other pertinent data.

“Watersheds play a multi-functional role in every community,” PCAARRD reminds.  “Aside from providing water for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes, watersheds in good condition serve as habitats to various plant and animal species and play ecological functions that keep flooding and other natural disasters at bay.” 

Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

Enter the dragon fruit: A businessman discovers farming during the pandemic

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

Aug 7, 2023 03:27 AM

  

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By Henrylito D. Tacio

In The Light in the Heart, Roy T. Bennett wrote: “Your hardest times often lead to the greatest moments of your life. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end.”

This statement came into reality when coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19) hit the country in March 2020. For the sake of public safety, Filipinos were told to stay home. The country was in lockdown mode. Businesses were greatly affected.

One of those who was impacted from the beatings of the pandemic was Geoffrey C. Igagamao, a businessman from Davao City. As his T-shirt business—he designs, prints and makes shirts—was considered non-essential, his source of income dropped.

Being the principal breadwinner of the family, he had to find some cash to augment whatever savings he had. Fortunately, it was at this time that the plantito and plantita hype commenced.

Since his backyard was unattended, he decided to turn it into a vegetable garden. Aside from providing his family with a steady source of safe and fresh vegetables, he sold some of his harvests to his neighbors who were afraid of going to the public market.

Ornamentals craze

But it wasn’t only him who was doing it. Others, particularly women, also planted and even collected ornamentals. There were those who really made money out of it as prices of ornamental plants skyrocketed.

Ornamental plants, grown primarily for their beauty and aesthetic quality, received the spotlight as people became devoted to gardening for stress relief. Besides, they had nothing to do at home, so they might as well grow ornamentals.

Igagamao saw the opportunity. He started selling vermicast, or worm castings, as an organic soil conditioner and a 100% natural fertilizer. He got his supply from a friend in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, who brought sacks whenever he visited Davao City.

Abandoned farm

But the income was not enough to support the needs of the couple and their five kids: Mico, Miggy, Janna, and twins Ayah and Aycah. It was at this time that Igagamao remembered the two-hectare farm given to him by his parents. He decided to visit the farm located in Balnate, a barangay in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur, about a two-hour ride from Davao City.

When he got there, he looked closely at the farm, which was planted with mangoes. But the mangoes—being abandoned and not fertilized—were not giving profitable harvests. He thought of planting it to another crop which would be a big hit in the market. He wanted to plant a crop that will be preferred by consumers.

After talking with some friends and people who were into farming, as well as conducting his own research, he decided to plant dragon fruit, a tropical fruit that is sweet and crunchy. It is described as a cross between kiwi and pear. A type of cactus actually, it has a creamy texture with tiny seeds similar to that of kiwi fruit.

Self-made farmer

Although his parents were farmers, Igagamao had never tried farming at all, so it was totally a new job for him. So, he watched all the videos pertaining to dragon fruits on YouTube. He also read whatever articles and features written on it he could find. He even visited dragon fruit farms and had the opportunity of talking with the late Mrs. Editha Dacuycuy of Ilocos, touted to be the queen of dragon fruits in the Philippines.

Igagamao inspecting a dragon fruit if it is ready for harvesting. (Henrylito Tacio)

With the knowledge gained from his research, the self-made farmer built 134 posts in April 2021. Six months later, he added 760 posts. Before the year was over, he added 600 posts more. In every post, he planted four seedlings with a distance of 3 meters by 3 meters.

“I can’t say it’s hard or easy to grow and manage the dragon fruits,” he admitted. “But I can say I was doing well because the original 134 posts I had, the seedlings were growing great. I applied all the knowledge I knew.”

There are several varieties of dragon fruits. He selected what is scientifically known as Hylocereus polyrhizuz, the fruit with pink skin and pink flesh. It is larger and sweeter than the most common variety, which has pink skin and white flesh.

Igagamao got his planting materials from reliable sources in Kiblawan, Davao del Sur and Kidapawan, North Cotabato. When those sources couldn’t supply the planting materials he needed, he went to Ozamis City in Misamis Occidental.

Dragon fruits management

Like most neophyte farmers, he had to rely on the knowledge he got from his readings and consultations. Among those he put into practice were the following: planting the right cuttings, applying the recommended fertilizers, and doing weekly side pruning and monthly weeding removal. He also conducts personal disease management.

He found that the roots, stems, foliar and flower buds, flowers, and fruits are susceptible to attack by a range of pests and diseases. Pests include mites, thrips, ants, scale insects, mealy bugs, beetles, slugs, borers, nematodes, fruit flies and rodents such as mice, birds or bats.

“Every other day, I had to make rounds to check every post if there are plants which are attacked by pests or have diseases,” he said. “When I found a disease, I cut the diseased branch and burned it.”

Irrigation is critical during fertilizer applications and fruiting. He applies mostly natural fertilizers in the form of vermicast, carbonized rice hull, and goat manure. Commercial fertilizers are also used only as add-ons.

Igagamao has no problem as to the source of water. There is a creek near his farm. He also gets water from the spring not far from his farm. “Dragon fruits may belong to the cactus family but they need water, especially at the time when they are fruiting,” he said.

This is part of the dragon fruit plantation of the Igagamao. (Henrylito Tacio)

Pruning, whether major or minor ones, is a regular operation, regardless of the age of the dragon fruits. “I have to prune them in order to have an open, manageable and productive umbrella-shaped canopy,” he said.

Igagamao is not alone in doing all these management practices, however. He has someone to help him on his farm. “I have instructed him [on] what to do when I am not around,” he said.

In the past, he was on the farm only three days a week. After a day’s work, he went home to his parents’ house in Bansalan, which is about a 30-minute ride. (His family lives in Davao City, which is about 90 kilometers away from the farm.)

When the dragon fruits started bearing fruit, he wanted to take care of them personally, so he decided to build a small hut in the middle of the farm. He stays there for five days and goes home to Davao City on weekends.

Selling initiatives

The first batch of dragon fruits started bearing fruit the following year. He was able to harvest 100 kilograms from the 134 posts in April 2022. The other batches of dragon fruits from different posts followed thereafter.

Today, he harvests around 200 kilograms every week. He started harvesting last March, and will end by the end of October. Because it’s harvesting season, he hired another laborer to help.

Here, the caretaker brings the harvested dragon fruits to the area where they are sorted. (Henrylito Tacio)

Igagamao sells his dragon fruits at P160 per kilogram. “Most people here are not familiar with dragon fruits, unlike mangoes,” he said. “In fact, when I planted dragon fruits, our neighbors were wondering what plant I was planting.”

He doesn’t have any problem selling his fruits, however. He does it through social media marketing. He and his wife, Joanne, post the farm’s produced fruits on their Facebook account and the buyers just respond by telling him how many kilograms they want. Most of those who do this are of Chinese descent.

The Igagamao couple, Geoffrey and Joanne. (Henrylito Tacio)

Igagamao also has an online store where people can order the volume of dragon fruits they want. He doesn’t deliver them but asks someone to bring the fruits to people who order them. He also has consolidators that sell the fruits in malls in Davao City.

He is thinking of distributing his dragon fruits to various hotels once his crops are producing optimum fruits. Right now, he gets only seven kilograms of fruits per post. After three years, he could get about 20 kilograms per post. The optimum 50 kilograms per post may be attained when the plants are already 10 years old.

Current situation

From the initial two hectares, the dragon fruit farm is now three hectares. He asked his sibling, who works as a nurse in the United States, if he can use the one hectare she inherited from their parents. She agreed. All in all, there are 1,500 posts with four dragon fruit plants grown on each post.

There are a few mango trees still standing on the farm. Aside from dragon fruits, he also planted grapes., which occupy about 150 square meters of the farm. He also is also raising some chickens and goats.

He also raises free-range chickens. (Henrylito Tacio)

“I added them to maximize the yield of my farm,” he pointed out. “At least, I have other fallbacks in case one is not performing well.”

Other plans

Since a lot of people are now requesting to visit his farm, he is thinking of turning it into one of the farm tourism destinations in the province. “That’s my ultimate goal,” he said. “I want to showcase it to farmer-wannabes that there is income in serious farming.”

He is also aiming the farm to become a Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA). “I have just applied for LSA at the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture,” he said.

According to ATI guidelines, to qualify as a Learning Site, the farmer should be a successful or model farmer who is willing to act as resource person and trainer and turn the farm into a demonstration area or a hands-on learning site.

Aside from selling fresh dragon fruits, he has also ventured into wine making, which he “discovered” by accident. When he went to Ozamis City to buy planting materials, he also bought 150 kilograms of dragon fruits.

When they arrived home, about 80 kilograms were destroyed during the trip. Instead of throwing them away, his wife Joan thought of turning them into wine. She consulted some friends and learned more from YouTube posts. They also consulted the Department of Science and Technology.

After six months, they tasted the wine and it was alright. People who have bought from them want to get more bottles of the Balnate Reserve, the name of the wine.

But due lack of raw materials (less dragon fruits), he has stopped making wine in the meantime. “My future plan is to continue my wine making,” he said.

Formula for success

Igagamao has gone a long, long way. The city man is now loving every bit of farming. Had it not been for the pandemic, he would never have discovered that farming is a profitable venture (although his family is still doing the T-shirt business).

“If you go into farming, you should love doing it in order for it to prosper,” he said. “Industriousness, perseverance and determination may be all but you can do it if you love doing and like what you are doing.”

Or as Roy T. Bennett said, “Challenge and adversity are meant to help you know who you are. Storms hit your weakness, but unlock your true strength.”

Photos by Henrilito Tacio

Welcome to clam waters: Saving endangered giant clams through ecotourism,

…one of the best ways to stop people from harvesting the giant clams is to educate them the importance of the species and how they help the fishing industry.

BY MANILA BULLETIN AGRICULTURE

  

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By Henrylito D. Tacio

The country’s waters are teeming with biological diversity (biodiversity). Unfortunately, some of the marine species thriving in them are now being threatened; some of them in fact are facing extinction.

Imagine the children’s children of today’s younger generations may no longer see those species in their original habitat. Worse, some of them may already be extinct so that future generations get a glimpse of these species only in photographs and films.

Such is the case of the giant clams, locally called taklobo. They are the iconic residents of coral reef ecosystems. They serve as habitat for fish, invertebrates and other marine organisms.

Giant clams are not facing extinction yet, but the Switzerland-based International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed them as vulnerable species as their population has declined by least 50%.

To halt giant clams from becoming extinct, the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI) introduced giant clam cultures in the 1980s, where cultured giant clams were restocked around the country.

Giant clams are harvested for their shells and meat. (Winston Plaza)

Taklobo Tours

The Island Garden City of Samal was one of the areas where the said program was initiated. In barangay Adecor of Kaputian District, the protected sanctuary houses over 3,700 giant clams.

The Marine Reserve Park and Multipurpose Hatchery, as it is called, is under the supervision of the local government unit of IGACOS. It is now a project of the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC).

The DNSC is partnering with Adecor United Fisherfolk Organization to save the giant clams from becoming extinct in the area. They believe that one of the best ways to stop people from harvesting the giant clams is to educate them the importance of the species and how they help the fishing industry.

That’s how the Taklobo Tours Conservation Tourism and Livelihood Opportunities for Coastal Communities came to be. It was officially launched in 2013 but closed during the pandemic. It was reopened early this year.

The two-hour Taklobo Tours includes an hour of snorkeling in the area. Visitors are brought by means of a motorized banca from the seashore to the floating cottage, where they are oriented about the importance of giant clams. The carrying capacity of the docking area is 30-35 persons while only 10-15 persons are allowed in the viewing deck.

After giving some instructions, the visitors are told to wear a life vest and given snorkel and mask to those who are interested. Then, they swim to the area where the giant clams are perfectly arranged on the seabed. As the water is clear, they can see the endangered species up close. Touching the giant clams is strictly not allowed.

Taklobo Tours is now one of Samal’s most popular activities for tourists. “Awesome and inspiring marine sanctuary that protects several species of giant clams,” commented one tourist who has visited the place. “With our snorkel masks on, we were led underwater by a certified guide to witness firsthand these amazing sea creatures.  We also learned about their habitat, life cycle and feeding. A definite must-see.”

Before they can visit the restricted area where the giant clams are being raised, tourists need to attend a lecture first to know the importance of giant clams and what they need to do when they are on the waters. (Henrylito Tacio)

Empowering the fishers

DNSC officials said the 14-hectare giant clam sanctuary helps empower and capacitate locals to become tourist guides and conservation warriors. “The success of the program proves that responsible tourism can flourish in a protected area for environmental conservation,” they said.

Joel Gonzaga, a member of the organization, agrees. “We raise awareness by informing the people who come how endangered these giant clams are and that there are now laws regarding its preservation,” he said. “It is now prohibited to harvest them and there are some consequences if they do so.”

When the program started, there was resistance from the community as giant clams had long been a source of food and income for most of them. With Taklobo Tours becoming popular, they are happy that they have supported the initiative.

The Samal marine sanctuary is just one of the beneficiaries of the Giant Clam Stock Enhancement Program of UP-MSI. So, whatever happened to others? To answer this question, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) funded a giant clam program to revisit these restocking sites.

Aside from assessing the current clam diversity and abundance, the program also aimed to advance culture and rearing protocols for giant clams through the use of modern molecular approaches.

This is the place where tourists are oriented before they can go into the water. (Henrylito Tacio)

Giant clams of the Philippines

There are actually 12 species of giant clams and eight of them can be found in the Philippine waters.  The giant clams, known in the science world as Tridacna gigas and considered the true giant clam, can grow larger than 4 feet across and weigh more than 180 kilograms.

The seven other species are: Tridacna deresa (smooth giant clam), T. squamosa (fluted giant clam or “hadgdan-hagdan”), T. hippopus  (strawberry clam or “kukong-kabayo”), T. crocea (boring clam), T. maxima (elongated giant clam), T. hippopus porcellanus (China clam), and T. noae ningaloo (Noah’s giant clam or teardrop clam).

The assessment conducted by the DOST-PCAARRD funded study showed that the 8 species are still found in the country’s waters. Surveys from 2018 to 2021 revealed high densities of restocked giant clams at several study locations where natural recruits of giant clams were also detected in 4 out 8 restocking sites.

“The presence of T. gigas recruits indicate that restocked clams are naturally spawning and producing new giant clams that may eventually grow into adults,” wrote Patrick C. Cabaitan, Roger G. Dolorosa, Girley S. Gumanao, and Cecilia G. Conaco in their collaborative report, “Giant Clams in the Philippines: Prevailing in a changing ocean through research and conservation.

“While giant clams are still prevalent in the Philippine reefs, their overall abundance and diversity remain low,” the four authors wrote. “Overharvesting, poaching, habitat destruction, and bleaching remain among the major challenges against the giant clam populations.”

The researchers have found some areas which are still home to an abundant and diverse community of giant clams.  “The presence of giant clams and juveniles suggests that local recruitment is successful,” they contend.

Not "killer clams"

Giant clams are the largest living bivalves. Despite their classic movie depictions as “killer clams,” there are no reliable cases of people being trapped and drowned by giant clams. Generally, they occupy coral reef habitats – typically within 20 meters of the surface. They are commonly found in shallow lagoons and reef flats and are characteristically embedded in sandy substrates or those composed of coral rubble.

Giant clams also provide shelter for different organisms. Serving as substrates of corals and sponges, marine biologists say giant clams – which can live in the wild reportedly up to over 100 years – help increase the residence of fishes and act as hiding places for other marine organisms.

“Like most corals, some anemones, and other reef organisms, giant clams utilize a combination of methods to obtain food,” explains Oceana, an international group focused solely on protecting the world’s oceans. “The majority of their energy is derived from symbiotic algae living within their cells, providing the clams with excess energy that they make via photosynthesis.”

In return, “the algae have a safe to live and receive the nutrients necessary to photosynthesize. The giant clams provide those nutrients by filtering feeding small prey from the water above the reef surface, which it siphons through its body. The beautiful, bright colors characteristic of individual giant clams is actually a result of the symbiotic algae.”

As giant clams cannot literally move due to their heavy weight (as much as 250 kilograms), they reproduce via external fertilization, where eggs and sperm are released into the water column at the same time. Although they are hermaphrodites, they cannot self-fertilize. “They are able to reproduce with other individuals that are close by,” Oceana explains.

Prehistoric marine mammals

Giant clams may have existed even during the time when dinosaurs roamed around this planet.

“We need to do something now before giant clams become extinct,” urges Dr. Rafael D. Guerrero III, a fishery expert and an academician with the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).

Dr. Guerrero, however, believes there’s still hope for giant clams. “To save our giant clams, we should protect them in the wild from poachers (particularly foreigners) and promote their sea farming,” he suggested.

Photos by Henrylito Tacio and Winston Plaza