Tagkawayan, QUEZON ― In celebration of “World Bamboo Day”, the DENR-CENRO Calauag headed by CENR Officer Joselito D. Barros spearheaded a bamboo planting activity along portions of the streambanks of Kabibihan River in Brgy. Bagong Silang, Tagkawayan, Quezon, simultaneous with other planting activities conducted nationwide on 17 September 2021.

World Bamboo Day which is originally celebrated every 18 September of each year, aims to raise awareness on bamboo and its importance globally.

With this year’s localized theme, “Alay ng Bayan sa Inang Kalikasan, Kawayan!”, the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) engaged the DENR regional and field offices to participate in a simultaneous bamboo planting activity.

This activity is one of the advocacies of the Department to rehabilitate and reforest degraded forestlands using bamboo and to develop sustainable bamboo plantations that would supplement the wood industry.

Prior to the planting activity, CENRO Barros highlighted during the Information Education and Communication (IEC) Campaign the importance and functions of bamboo in the erosion-prone areas of riverbanks.

He mentioned that the capability of bamboo to ensure efficient soil cover and its high, lightly dense culms, and resilient root systems; are its best characteristics for riverbank stabilization.

CENRO Barros added that bamboo generates income and revenue for the people. Later, he advised the participants to maintain and monitor the bamboos planted in the site.

In-Charge, Conservation and Development Section, EMS II Novet Joy S. Pantalunan also stressed the importance of planting bamboo in riverbank stabilization. She as well cited some of the efforts of government in integrating the bamboo industry to the livelihood of the community.

Meanwhile, National Greening Program (NGP) Coordinator, Forester I Aleli C. Alvarez demonstrated the proper planting of bamboo culm cuttings with the assistance of CENRO Barros.

A total of twenty-six (26) individuals from CENRO Calauag, AKAY Upland Farmers Association Inc., and Bagong Silang BLGU accomplished to plant two hundred (200) culm cuttings of “Bayog” along the streambank portions of Kabibihan River. ###