In an interagency effort to promote bamboo for environmental and economic development in Region 2, a simultaneous bamboo planting activity was conducted today in line with the celebration of Philippine Bamboo Month and World Bamboo Day.

 

With the theme “Industriyang Kawayan, Para sa Paglago ng Ekonomiya at Kalikasan,” the bamboo growing activity was spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in partnership with national government agencies and other institutions.

 

More or less 33,000 bamboo seedlings and propagules were planted by government employees and other volunteers covering a total of 189 hectares in 27 sites in the entire region.

 

Of the total sites, the DENR planted more than 7,000 in 16 sites covering a total of nearly 40 hectares.

 

“We promote bamboo because this is proven effective climate change mitigating crop. Bamboo plantations are carbon sinks and aid riverbank stabilization,” said DENR Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan during the program briefing before the planting activity held in Lannig, Solana, Cagayan.

 

She added growing bamboos are source of livelihood and can eventually boost economic development through the production of bamboo lumber which is now considered a growing industry. “We look forward that Region 2 will soon become supplier of bamboo lumber to our neighboring regions,” she hoped.

 

DTI Regional Director Leah Pulido-Ocampo claimed that with the interagency efforts in promoting the bamboo industry, both the environment and the economy will be restored.

 

“Let us make Cagayan Valley Region more vibrant and we aim for a more sustained participation in the bamboo value chain globally,” the Director enthused.

 

For the part of the Department of Labor and Employment, Regional Director Joel Gonzales committed to deploy graduates from their Government Internship Program for the monitoring and maintenance of the planted bamboos.

 

“Bamboo is a sustainable alternative resource for wood and it has a great potential in addressing economic needs,” said Cagayan Provincial Administrator Maria Rosario Mamba-Villaflor who also supported the activity on behalf of Governor Manuel Mamba.

 

Solana Mayor Jennalyn Carag represented by municipal ENRO Mary Jane Camayang also supported the growing of bamboo in Solana town.

 

Aside from the government agencies, partners who joined the activity regionwide include local government units, members of the academe, people’s organizations and other non-government organizations.#