Kapis shell once made a record of ranking in US$35 million and placed 5th among the major fishery export products of the Philippines. That was 1991. Today, the number of kapis are dwindling and worst, they have totally disappeared in some places, says the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) journal, the Asian Aquaculture. Kapis shells (Placuna placenta) or windowpane oyster is economically important due to its translucent shell used as raw materials for construction of homes and decorations.

Portal, T. (2002, February 19). Kapis shell industry - can the downfall be reversed?. Panay News, p. 9.