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South Cotabato to establish bamboo hub
by Joeven C. Calasagsag - Wednesday, 16 November 2011, 04:55 PM
 
balita.ph; November 14, 2011 11:30 pm

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Nov. 14 – The provincial government of South Cotabato plans to establish a bamboo hub or center in a bid to further promote the development of the province’s thriving bamboo industry.

South Cotabato Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr. said Monday he has directed the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) to conduct a study for the establishment of the bamboo hub and set some strategies and options for the procurement of the necessary equipment and operations of the facility.

“Our bamboo industry has tremendous opportunities for growth and we want to exploit that within the next few years,” the governor said.

Mary Jane Manlisis, PEMO senior environment specialist, they recently met with members of the newly-established South Cotabato Bamboo Industry Development Council to conceptualize the establishment of the proposed bamboo hub.

The council was earlier created pursuant to Executive Order 879, which provided for the creation of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council.

Manlisis said the council mainly aims to promote bamboo industry development projects and the use of bamboo for at least 25 percent of the desk and other furniture requirements of public elementary and secondary schools.

She said it is also promoting the utilization of bamboo for furniture, fixtures and other related requirements of government facilities.

Manlisis said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has allocated some P9.5 million for the establishment of a bamboo node, which primarily processes bamboos before it will be made as engineered tiles and bamboo planks for desks and furniture.

She said the fund will be used for the procurement of machines, tools and equipment for primary processing, kiln drying operation and final processing of planks and panel.

“DepEd South Cotabato has already committed to support the project by procuring at least 20 percent of the annual requirement for desks and arm chairs of public elementary and secondary schools in the province from the bamboo hub,” she said.

Manlisis said the provincial government has been the province’s 10 municipalities and lone city to set up their own bamboo nurseries and promote the planting of bamboo in their respective areas.

Presently, she said the province has at least 17 bamboo nurseries located in the municipalities of Lake Sebu, Tantangan, Tupi and Tampakan and in Koronadal City. [(PNA) LAP/FFC/AVE/HST]

Source: South Cotabato to establish bamboo hub
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