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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 is almost done with the production of bamboos and other indigenous species for the green infrastructure of the Cagayan River.
 
In the national meeting of the Build Back Better (BBB) Task Force held on July 1, Cagayan Valley environment chief Gwendolyn Bambalan reported that a total of 126,224 bambo propagules have been produced which is 96 percent of the region’s target of 131,316.
 
These bamboo stocks composed of variety of species are being tended at the mechanized and modernized forest nursery in Solana town, at the regional clonal nursery in Tuguegarao City, and at the nurseries established by the community environment and natural resources offices in Cagayan province.
 
“Our employees from all over the region have also produced 171,452 bamboo and indigenous forest tree species as their personal commitment to the program,” Director Bambalan said.
 
She also reported that more or less 90 hectares were initially planted along riverbanks in Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino and Nueva Vizcaya.
 
Director Bambalan has earlier emphasized that this “green infrastructure” will complement the removal of sandbars along the heavily-silted Cagayan River. This will stabilize riverbanks and prevent further widening.
 
Immediately after the massive flooding in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela brought about by Typhoon Ulysses in November last year, DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu who chairs the BBB task force ordered to prioritize the planting of bamboos on the banks of the Cagayan River to help prevent a repeat of the floods.
 
He also ordered all the DENR regional offices including the Cagayan Valley to ensure the availability of bamboo planting materials.
 
The region has assessed identified areas that are suitable for bamboo planting.
 
The 585 hectares for planting are located along the Cagayan River, Pared River, Zinundungan River, Dummon River, Abulug River, Pamplona River, Cabicungan River and Pinacanauan de Tuguegarao, all in the province of Cagayan.#