BY MERLITO G. EDALE JR., PIA
CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (September 18)—At least 1,000 bamboo seedlings will soon give its share to economic and environmental contribution as the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) in this province with the planting of 1,000 seedlings in celebration of the Bamboo Day today.
The activity was participated by employees of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Naguilian and some people’s organizations and volunteers.
The activity was conducted at the bamboo planting site at Barangay Rang-Ayan in this city, a five-hectare planting site reserved for the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Raquel Caldez, Penro-Isabela information officer, said the activity is also in support of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu’s call to rehabilitate and reforest degraded forestlands using bamboo specie and provide additional bamboo plantations for the purpose.
For his part, Penro-Isabela chief Marlon Agnar said bamboo is helpful to prevent soil erosions and landslides and can be used for livelihood of the people such as development of bamboo craft, clothing fiber, pulp and paper products, food ingredients, beauty products and in construction purposes.
Agnar has called on all Isabeleños to join bamboo planting activities in their areas and help the agency in promoting the importance of planting bamboo even in the backyards.
Meanwhile, the Holy Trinity Agro-Forestry Multi-purpose Coop. will also showcase some bamboo products that are being produced by the said cooperative for purposes of promoting bamboo craft products.
Bamboo has been one of the fastest-growing renewable resources in the world and is a sustainable alternative to wood.