Green Philippines! Palo, Leyte Mayor Leads Giant Bamboo Advocacy

Yesterday, while traveling from Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay back to Kidapawan City, I received an unexpected message from an official of Palo town in Leyte.
The staff said Mayor Matin of Palo asked if she could call me about a very important concern.
Nawala sa isip ko na si Mayor Matin pala ay si former Leyte Governor Remedios “Matin” Petilla and we were together in the Governors League of the Philippines when I was Governor of North Cotabato.
On the phone, Mayor Matin asked me if I could help Palo start the Giant Bamboo Advocacy saying that she wanted all of the barangays in the town, except those in the population center, to have a 1-hectare Bamboo Park each for a total of 25-hectares.
Then I asked a very stupid question.
“Are you in good terms with the Leyte Governor because if you are then we might as well conduct a Giant Bamboo Summit in Palo town for the whole province of Leyte,” I asked.
The response was: “I should be in good terms with him because he is my son” which was followed by a chuckle.
The incumbent Governor of Leyte is former Energy Secretary Jericho Peetilla, son of Mayor Matin, and who took over the Governorship from his brother, Leopoldo Petilla.
After recovering from an embarrassing moment, I suggested to Mayor Matin that we schedule a Giant Bamboo Orientation Workshop for Palo and perhaps other LGUs of Leyte next month, October.
I will bring along with me experts in the field and perhaps arrange a small expo to display products made out of bamboo.
So, sa mga taga Leyte na nagtatanong kung kailan darating ang Giant Bamboo sa inyong probinsya, it will start next month, October with the initiative of Mayor Matin Petilla.
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GreenPhilippinesAdvocacy!