TACLOBAN CITY- The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office 8 (DENR-8) is encouraging the planting of bamboos for environmental and economic benefits.
Regional Director Leonardo Sibbaluca, DENR regional director, said that based on studies, bamboo leaves could absorb more than 100 times than the ordinary leaves.
Sibbaluca explained that more bamboos planted could absorb more greenhouse gasses that are causing global warming, which results to climate change.
Sibbaluca further explained that Eastern Visayas is suited for bamboo production and in fact, bamboo is very good specie for soil erosion control especially in steep slopes or hilly areas and in river banks.
Sibbaluca said that aside from environmental benefits, bamboo has many economic uses for food, for building purposes, for fencing, and it has an export potential as bamboos are used in furniture industry and for the production of chopsticks among others.
He also said that establishing bamboo plantations is one of the flagship programs of DENR for 2017.
He added that DENR is set to undergo massive planting of bamboo throughout the country especially in the areas devastated by super typhoon “Yolanda” this year.
The DENR has allocated P600 million for bamboo plantation establishments across the region wherein P200 million is allocated for Leyte; P200 million for Samar; P100 million for Eastern Samar; and 100 million for Northern Samar. (RESTITUTO A. CAYUBIT)
