High oxygen-producer, soil erosion cutter, riverbanks stabilizer, watersheds regulator, water discharge controller, water nutrients recycler, among others.

Local residents of Barangay Pussian in the town of Alcala are now recipients of these awesome benefits of bamboo considering the 50 hectares bamboo plantation maintained by 10 NGP beneficiaries.

“Malaking tulong sa aming komunidad ang kawayan. Maliban sa maaari naming pagkakitaan, nagsisilbi itong proteksiyon laban sa pagguho ng lupa lalo na kung may bagyo at kalamidad.  Nabibiyayaan din kami ng saganang katubigan na siyang ginagamit namin sa araw-araw naming pamumuhay,” said punong barangay Gerardo Garma.

With the four-year old bamboo plantation established in the area, the bamboos as fast grower and equally stronger with a steel, is starting to provide initial harvests and food supply for the community. 

Recently, the beneficiaries sold more than 200 bamboo poles and they too, had several harvest on other commodities intercropped like ginger and peanut which are found productive in the shaded area. However, bamboo shoots were only harvested as their food consumption since they prioritize growing the said species.

According to Garma, the site was previously planted with corn. “Sa tulong ng NGP, naiwasan na ang pagtatanim ng mga mais. Naging dahilan ito upang makatulong sa kalikasan at magkaroon kami ng karagdagang pangkabuhayan,” he added.

He said the plantation is giving the residents fresh air and protection against soil erosion especially during the onslaught of disasters and calamities.

As he recalled the damages brought about by Typhoon Ulysses in Cagayan in 2020, Garma emphasized the growing bamboos along their vicinity will serve as their shield to spare them from flooding.

Bayanihan spirit is one of the best practices they are employing.  They visit the area once a month and do replanting, cleaning, weeding and brushing activities. Beneficiaries who cannot make it will be fined 500 pesos of which will become their revolving fund.

“Masuwerte kami at nabigyan kami ng ganitong proyekto. Salamat sa DENR sa palaging pagsubaybay sa amin,” he added.

The punong barangay is optimistic that someday, a better future for his constituents will come.

“Mahirap ang buhay namin dito sa Pussian.  Kaya pinagbubuti pa namin ang pag-aalaga sa aming taniman lalo na sa mga bamboo.  Kapag dumami at harvestable na ang mga ito, madali na lang kaming makapanghikayat ng gustong mag-invest sa aming mga bamboo,” he further added.

He also said one must persevere in growing and maintaining the bamboo plantation in order to achieve 100 percent survival.

They also committed to equally complement how the bamboo managed to grow and stand tall so that they too, as farmers, can become as strong as the bamboo species.