|
|
|
Thursday February 8, 6:00 PM
Philippines Holds 5TH National Bamboo Conference in DumagueteDUMAGUETE CITY, Feb. 8 Asia Pulse - Stakeholders in the bamboo industry all over the country are expected to come up with a common agenda during the three-day 5th National Bamboo Conference slated in Dumaguete from February 7-9. At a press conference Tuesday evening, key officials from national and international groups advocating the use of bamboo and its end-products highlighted the gains of the non-wood forest product in furniture making, food, crafts, music and dance, building and construction, among others.
Maosa, whose bamboo designs that include the Coconut Palace, have earned him respect from other designers, is vice president and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Bamboo Federation (PBF). According to Coosie Hoogendorn, director general of the Beijing-based International Network of Bamboo and Rattan, the conference here aims to provide participants with more knowledge on how to move forward in the bamboo industry in Negros Oriental and in the country. Holding the 5th National Bamboo Conference here was planned after the creation of the Buglas Bamboo Institute in the province, which has now expanded local participation from Dumaguete to other southern towns up to Siaton, said Frans Koerkamp, a trustee of the PBF Board, who has lived here for about 13 years. PBF president Romualdo Sta. Ana lamented that while there is a lot of future in bamboo, it is not as appreciated yet in the Philippines. He pointed out that bamboo can also be a good substitute for wood as many parts of the country are now denuded. Bamboo is the fastest means of re-greening our forests, Sta. Ana said, adding that Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes has assured of integrating bamboo in the countrys reforestation program. It takes only three years for bamboo to grow, as opposed to trees that take years before its wood can be used for construction and other purposes, said Maosa. Dumaguete Mayor Agustin Perdices, in the same press conference, also suggested that instead of just supplying raw materials to other places where bamboo end-products are being manufactured, locales should also be trained on processing bamboo so our people could earn more. The 5th National Bamboo Conference, spearheaded by the Philippine Bamboo Federation, the provincial government, and the First Gentleman Foundation, is being held at the Bamboo Hall, Levisville Garden at the Saint Paul University in Dumaguete. Expected to be taken up during the conference are the role of the academe in the development of the bamboo industry and the role of bamboo in the fulfillment of the millennium development goals. The conference banners the theme Kawayan: Pangkabuhayan at Pangkalikasan and is also expected to tackle issues and concerns to include over-extraction of bamboos and massive replanting program. It also hopes to establish strong cooperation between the private sector to include stakeholders like farmers, civil society and businesses, the government sector, educational institutions and tri-media for the drafting of a comprehensive plan for the bamboo industry. The three-day conference includes lectures, presentations, exposure visit to the Buglas Bamboo production center in Dauin town, and at closing, a presentation of the national bamboo development paper and bamboo development for the province. (PNA)
|
|
Copyright ©
2007
AsiaPulse Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved. Retransmission,dissemination or publication is expressly forbidden. Asia Pulse gives no warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy of the information and shall not be liable for errors, omissions, or delays or interruptions in the service.
|
