By Franklin P. Gumapon
RAMON MAGSAYSAY, Zamboanga del Sur – A memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-9 and this town has been signed here yesterday for the establishment of a “Bambusetum” in the municipality with Regional Director Arleigh Adorable and Mayor Leonilo D. Borinaga Sr. as signatories.
Once completed, this Bambusetum (a bamboo demonstration area) is the second in region 9; the first one was set up in a one-hectare lot in Pasonanca, Zamboanga City.
In his welcome statement, Mayor Borinaga said that bamboo is the municipality’s one town, one product (OTOP), as it is producing a variety of bamboo crafts such as “sawali” (woven split bamboo mats), baskets, furniture and many others.
Borinaga also disclosed that this bamboo craft making in his town has been in existence for more than 50 years now since it was introduced by people from Cebu and Siquijor who migrated here.
The municipality will soon be producing engineered bamboos for floor tiles, furniture, tabletops and wall panels, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has allotted some P3.5 million for the procurement of machineries for the purpose.
To encourage the locals to go on bamboo production, the Technology Transfer Division (TTD) of DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Service (ERDS) is now conducting a two-day forum on bamboo production and utilization with the members of Ramon Magsaysay Bamboo Association (RAMAGBA) and those living in the municipality’s flood-prone areas as participants. The said forum will end today.
Speaking before the participants, ERDS Regional Technical Director Gil Ona told them “bamboo is now called ‘green gold of the century’ as a potential export commodity.”
Subscribing to Ona’s statement, Director Adorable has encouraged the participants to plant bamboos to ensure a continuous supply for the bamboo craft industry in the municipality.
