I recently received a very important article from a good friend, Darlene Casiano, who is involved in the local bamboo industry, along with organizations that help benefit people living in the countryside. I believe this is worth sharing with readers.

“The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Provincial Office organized the Neg. Occ. Bamboo Industry Development Council co-chaired by Negros Island Bamboo Network Inc. A strategic planning event will be on October 12, 2018 for 2019 programs and activities to be incorporated in the Provincial Development Plan.

The members of the League of Municipalities and Provinces also envision supporting the emergence of a new industry based on a resilient non-timber forest product, bamboo.

The Philippine Bamboo Road Map specifies, development of the industry is for microenterprises to flourish in rural areas. DTI mentioned, so far, only one business venture, MCON Crafts of Silay City, has consistently pursued its vision of breaking through the export market with its handcrafted bamboo products.

The Negros Island Bamboo Network Inc., for its part, chose to pursue engineered bamboo as the preferred bamboo product to be produced, using bamboo poles sourced from idle and marginal lands on the island.”

Bamboo is now seen as the “wise man’s timber” and a truly green business solution.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been supportive of the initiative due to bamboo’s value as an intervention for climate change.

Congratulations to the new Negros Occidental Bamboo Industry Development Council. It is a good development that our local government and other national agencies are looking at industries other than sugar. As an agricultural province, we must not depend solely on sugar.

It’s not too late to venture into other crops and agricultural products as well; it’s one way of creating job opportunities and business ventures.

Bamboo today and other products tomorrow./WDJ