Wood of the future! Giant Bamboo Program Eyes 5-M Has. In 10 Years

People could call me an incorrigible optimist and dreamer but I really believe that a people-initiated and income-generating Giant Bamboo Program could cover 5-million hectares of deforested areas in the country in 10 years.

This would also mean the start of a multi-billion-peso Bamboo Industry which could supply the country’s “wood” requirements for housing and building construction.

Advanced Bamboo processing technology could now turn the treated slats into plyboards, posts and furniture.

With the help of friends who believe in my Green Philippines Advocacy, especially Myrna Decipulo, Rod Bioco, Bobby Tinsay and Roger Navarro of Bukidnon, I am propagating about 100,000 propagules of the Giant Bamboo in my farm in Kidapawan City.

These Giant Bamboo planting materials, along with a few thousand seedlings of the EVIARC Sweet Jackfruit, will be distributed for free to all provinces in the Philippines reachable by my old Isuzu Elf truck.

Some may interpret this as a subtle way of campaigning since I am running for the Senate.

Honestly, I thought of this program when I was still Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority as part of the Green Mindanao Project.

It was supposed to be for Mindanao only but since I have joined national politics, I thought it would be a good platform to emphasize my concern for the environment.

This program will be an improvement of the government’s National Greening Program because this will be initiated by the people and local governments motivated by the prospective economic returns and environmental protection.

The 100,000 Giant Bamboos, with an assumed survival rate of 80%, are expected to produce 200 propagules per grove on the 3rd year.

This could produce 16-million propagules which if propagated with an assumed survival rate of 80% would yield 12.8-miĺlion planting materials.

After three years, the 12.8-m groves could produce over 2-B propagules which could cover 5-million hectares on the 9th year of the program.

What is critical in the success of this program would be the economic benefits of Bamboo farming estimated at P200,000 per hectare annually.

Since this would be a people-initiated program, government’s counterpart would be the establishment of processing facilities which could be done through legislation.

I may not live long enough to see 5-million hectares of greenland covered by bamboo groves in the country but I will be happy with the thought that this could be my greatest legacy for the next generation of Filipinos.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

#LetsWalkTheTalk!

#RegreeningThePhilippines!