‘Tamilok’now a tourism lure in Aklan

“Tamilok” or shipworm. Photo courtesy of Aklan Kamera Org via Panay Directory.

KALIBO, Aklan — The shipworm, locally known as “tamilok,” is now teeming in the town of Kalibo, according to former congressman Atty. Allen Quimpo.

Quimpo, who is the president of the Kalibo Save the Mangroves (KASAMA), said they are now promoting the shipworm as part of the tourism lure of the town.

“The ‘tamilok’ has temporarily disappeared in Kalibo some 30 years ago. Soon after I learned that the shipworm is growing on the mangrove park we started to cultivate them,” said Quimpo.

The KASAMA, in cooperation with the Kalibo Hotel Accommodations Association and the Aklan Provincial Tourism Office, lately held the Second Tamilok Cooking Challenge at the eco-park at Barangay Old Buswang here.

Some restaurants in this town are now serving ‘tamilok’ as part of their regular menu. A one-fourth kilo of tamilok costs around P75.

“Aside from being food, we are also promoting tamilok cultivation as a mitigation to climate change,” said Quimpo.