CALAMBA City, Laguna – A quadripartite Memorandum of Agreement among the Department of Environment and Natural Resources CALABARZON Region, Tribal Council Association of Puray Inc. (TCAPI), Bamboo Professionals Inc. (BPI), and Rotary District Club 3780 for the adoption of the 10-hectare plantation in Marikina River Watershed was signed on July 11, 2022, at DENR Central Office, Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.
The 10-hectare plantation is located at Sitio Macapicapic, Brgy. Puray, San Rafael, Rodriguez, Rizal within the Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL). The said plantation is an NGP graduated site established in 2013.
Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) Executive Director Rene “Butch” Madarang presented their projects aligned with Rotary International’s 7th area of focus which is protecting the environment. “We have 62 bamboo species available in the country where 21 are endemic and 41 are introduced,” Madarang said.
“There is a need to address the root causes of the flooding, which is climate change and the denudation of the country’s watersheds” Director Madarang added. He also explained that bamboo has proven climate change mitigation properties such as soil stabilization, and carbon capture that cleans the air according to the research or studies of international and local experts.
Director Madarang ended his presentation with “kung sama sama, tulong tulong ay kayang kaya. May kasabihan na ‘if coconut is a tree of life, bamboo is a green grass of hope”.
The DENR CALABARZON was represented by For. Herminigildo C. Jocson, the Regional National Greening Program (NGP) Coordinator and focal person of Tayo ang Kaikasan (TAK) Task Force during the signing of the agreement. “Isa sa mga prioridad ng DENR ay palawigin pa ang National Greening Program na nakapaloob sa Tayo Ang Kalikasan (TAK)” Jocson said.
He expressed “salamat po sa pagtutulungan para sa ating kapaligiran, tayo po ang kalikasan, ang kalikasan ay buhay dapat nating ipaglaban”.
In the agreement, there are two (2) phases for the bamboo plantation project. The initial phase was the establishment of the nursery which includes the growing of bamboo planting materials for six (6) to eight (8) months. To be followed by the transplanting of grown bamboo planting materials within the allocated 10-hectare land. TCAPI will maintain and protect the said area for 5 (five) years.
Moreover, Rotary District 3780 handed the check amounting to Php 500,000.00 to TCPI President Angelito Cruz to fund the project. President Cruz expressed his gratitude for choosing their organization for the bamboo plantation project.|
