Massive bamboo plantation eyed in Pangasinan 2020

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Pangasinan is eyeing the massive planting of bamboo next year for environmental protection and flood mitigation. 

Ernesto Gayo, PENRO head in the province, told The STAR recently that there was zero planting this year of seedlings in new sites but in previous areas, the maintenance and protection continue. 

“To ensure higher survival, we prepared first high-quality seedlings,” Gayo said, noting the seedlings, like forest trees, were grown in bigger size first made to grow bigger to ensure they can survive.

He said for 2020, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is focusing on the use of bamboo as an alternative form of livelihood.

Bamboo will also address wood demand because of an existing technology that allows its use for houses and furniture.

Gayo said the kawayan tinik (Bambusa blumeana) variety is endemic to the Philippines. He said a group will invest in a bamboo plantation in central Pangasinan. 

There is high demand for kawayan tinik in China, where it will be exported for a ready market, he said.

For next year, about 10,000 hectares will be planted to bamboo by an investment group, Gayo said. The National Greening Program will also plant bamboo in about 100 to 200 hectares across Pangasinan, and they are still eyeing suitable areas. 

An all-weather plant, bamboo has high absorptive capacity for carbon dioxide and quality air. Within five years, bamboo can be cut for wood.

Bamboo plantations can also address forest fires as investors deploy guards to augment some 60 forest rangers of the DENR in Pangasinan.