• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Cadiz city government has enforced a strict “no entry” policy at the Giant Clam Village within the Lakawon Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Brgy. Cadiz Viejo, following the illegal extraction of 33 giant clams discovered Dec. 25.
Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said that marker buoys have already been deployed in portions of the Lakawon MPA to strengthen protection measures.
The 33 bivalves, considered as protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, were part of the 2,449 species habitating within the 9.2-hectare Giant Clam Village (GC Ville), declared by the city government as a protected sea expanse.
The poachers, whose identities are yet to be known, forcibly extracted the 33 bivalves out of GC Ville, torted them, and shucked their meats before leaving their empty shells.
Mayor Escalante branded such act as a sort of “environmental terrorism” as GC Ville is labeled as the city’s cornerstone in advocating environmental protection and conservation.
He offered a P20,000 cash reward to those who could give vital information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the suspects.
“You gave us the hardest lesson. We will give you the hardest retribution just in case,” the mayor warned the suspects.
Under Republic Act 10654 (Philippine Fisheries Code), anyone proven guilty of poaching or “killing” any of the protected marine species will face either criminal or criminal liabilities, and be fined P300,000 to P3 million.
GC Ville is home to four species of giant clams that include Tridacna squamosa, Tridacna crosea, Hippopus hippopus, and Tridacna maxima.
Aside from Cadiz City, other places in the Philippines with giant clam conservation areas are Samal Island, Davao del Norte; Silaki Island, Bolinao, Pangasinan; Binduyan and Ulugan, Palawan; Sinandigan, Ubay, Bohol; and Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi.
“It really pained me knowing the news. It came as a bad Christmas gift for Cadiz,” Escalante said.
He added that stringent security measures have had been drawn out, and GC Ville will be guarded by Cadiz’s sea vanguards or Bantay Dagat operatives 24/7.
The mayor said they will check the veracity of the information regarding the suspects.
“Once we positively identify them, we will not hesitate to file the necessary criminal charges,” Escalante said. | GB
