Target: 2,000 hectares! Cotabato Gov Launches Giant Bamboo Industry

North Cotabato officials led by Governor Nancy Catamco will launch this month the Giant Bamboo Industry Development Program targeting at least 2,000 hectares in the mountainous areas of the province, including Mt. Akir-Akir in Libungan town.

In a breakfast meeting in my farm in Kidapawan City yesterday, Gov. Catamco, Cong. Joel Sacdalan, Board Member Maria Krista Piñol-Solis, former Magpet Mayor Efren Piñol and former Tulunan Mayor Lani Sarillo-Candolada, welcomed my proposal of a collaboration between my farm, Braveheart Farms, and the Provincial Government.

It was agreed that Braveheart Farms will provide Giant Bamboo planting materials to at least 2,000 families at one hectare per family.

The seedlings will be paid for by the beneficiaries when they start harvesting the Giant Bamboo after 6 years which will be processed in a facility to be established in the Provincial Agro-Industrial Park in M’lang town.

Farming families who will participate in the program will be asked to enter into a Buy-Back Agreement with the group which will establish the Giant Bamboo processing facility.

The priority areas for the planting of Giant Bamboos will be the upland towns of Arakan, Antipas, Magpet, Pres. Roxas, Kidapawan City, Makilala, Tulunan, Matalam, Carmen, Banisilan, Alamada, Aleosan, Midsayap, Libungan and Pigcawayan.

The program is expected to boost the province’s campaign to re-green the deforested areas and provide farmers with marginal lands and earn an estimated income of at least P200,000 per hectare per year.

The Giant Bamboo is now an accepted species in the manufacture of wood tiles, furniture and construction materials, most of which are exported.

Gov. Catamco will lead the ceremonial distribution and planting of the Giant Bamboo seedlings last week of September in Arakan and Libungan towns.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

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(Photos by Joyce Tupas, MinDA OC)