4,000 bamboos planted for World Bamboo Day

• Source: https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/bottom-article-list/2018/09/23/1853891/4000-bamboos-planted-world-bamboo-day
• Sunday, September 23, 2018

By Lorraine Mitzi A. Ambrad (MBG, The Freeman)

CEBU, Philippines — Around 5,000 bamboos were planted yesterday to celebrate the World Bamboo Day.

According to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), they initially targeted to plant 4,000 bamboo plants in the towns of Asturias and Balamban but they exceeded their target when around 1,000 fruit-bearing trees and hardwood were added to the list.

The seedlings were planted near the riverbanks of Liki River. Last year, 2,000 bamboo plants were planted along the riverbank.

PDRRMO spokesperson Jules Regner said that this is the third time Cebu celebrated Bamboo Day but only few of the trees which they planted have survived.

This year, PDRRMO and its partners coordinated with the barangay units so that they can take care of the trees and ensure its growth because the activity is not just tree planting but a tree growing initiative.

Next year, the provincial government hopes to expand the activity by involving more local government units. The towns of Ronda and Alcantara are two of the towns which already expressed willingness to co-host the activity.

Regner stressed that it is important to plant trees as part of the mitigating efforts for disaster. In light of the City of Naga landslide, he said that Cebuanos should be more aware and participative in efforts to protect the environment.

The six-hour activity was participated in by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENRO), JCI Metro Cebu Uptown, Asturias Poultry Growers, Kabilin Nature Farms Foundation, the barangay units concerned, and other commercial sponsors. Volunteers from various fraternities, academe, and non-government organizations also came.

In an earlier press conference, Fr. Vic Labao of Kabilin Nature Farms Foundation emphasized the importance and uses of bamboo.

Adult bamboos are considered helpful in climate change adaptation as it has carbon sequestration properties, which can absorb about 400 kilos of carbon dioxide in a year.

Labao added that bamboos, once harvested, can be used as scaffolding, a material for housing, creative handicrafts, and more. With these options, the plant has both environmental and economic advantages.

Bamboo matures in a span of three to five years. When used up, they can be easily replaced.