The research project is being undertaken by the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) and the Bureau of Agricultural Research of the Department of Agriculture.

The two institutions have signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the project titled "Development of Hatchery Techniques for the Oriental Angelwing, Pholas orientalis."

Signatories to the MOA were UPV Chancellor Glenn Aguilar and BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar.

The project’s proponents are Dr. Liberato Laureta and Dr. Riza Aguilar, both associate professors of the UPV College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences-Institute of Aquaculture (CFOS-IA).

Implementing agency is the UPV-CFOS-IA while collaborating agencies are the local government units of Roxas City, Capiz; Pontevedra, Negros Occidental; Kalibo, Aklan; and Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

The project generally aims to establish viable and more efficient techniques for the production of angelwing or diwal spats (young bivalves) and seedlings.

It specifically aims to determine the fecundity (reproductiveness) of different sizes of adult diwal; the effects of different temperature, salinity, types, and amount of food items on the growth and survival of larvae and spats; and the best size of seedlings for dispersal that will end the hatchery process.

Oriental angelwing, locally known as diwal amongVisayans, is one of the most important marine bivalves in the Philippines.

Found indigenously in coastal waters of Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz and Negros Occidental, it has become a major source of income for coastal fishermen.

It has emerged as a "tourist food attraction" in Roxas City, Iloilo City and Bacolod City owing to its succulent texture, sweet and juicy taste, and unique flavor.

However, because of overexploitation and destructive human activities, their population has decreased tremendously, and "tragically may soon face extinction if no intervention would be made," warned Dr. Laureta, a multi-awarded marine scientist.

UPV stressed that traditional collection grounds of diwal should be rehabilitated through stocking of artificially produced seedlings.