Why clams are more than just food

Dear Ms Ceres Doyo,

Thank you for writing about the giant clams in “The Silence of the clams” (4/25/19). The clams are close to my heart because I have joined a project to plant 7,100 clams for 7,100 islands.

These are the Tridacna gigas (taklobo). We planted young taklobo in Sta. Ana, Cagayan, several times. My friend and his wife (Luis and Chen Mencias) have been planting the young taklobo all over the Philippines for more than a decade now. The source of our taklobo is the UP marine laboratory in Bolinao.

The planting of the giant clams not only helps increase their dwindling population. It also improves the coral reefs’ health.

I hope there will be greater awareness and care of the giant clams.

JO ASPREC