Engineered Bamboo project – a promising Industry
“From poor man’s lumber to rich man’s wood, from lowly nipa hut to luxury villas/resort, from domestic to international market,” this can be the shift of the way we look at bamboo, after sometime if the project will go on full swing and developed to the fullest, said Frank BOnoan, Executive Director, Cottage Industry Technology Center.
Bonoan was in the province recently with Conrad Pereras, Chairman, Bamboo Network of the Philippines speakers in a symposium on Engineered Bamboo Project or E-bamboo project.
E-Bamboo project is envisioned to help in the protection and conservation of environment at the same time uplift the living conditions of the marginalized upland farmers.
According to the resource speakers the project can help supply 25% desk requirement of DepEd, which in a way will help in attaining the vision of quality education for all children
With this project the National Government also hopes to reduce the cutting of trees at the same time, create jobs and business opportunities for bamboo growers.
At the forefront are DTI through the Cottage Industry Technology Center, who has machines to make bamboo desks, Provincial Government, Antique Development Foundation, an NGO engaged in export of handicrafts/bamboo products, DILG and League of Municipalities in the Philippines-Antique Chapter.
Bamboo is a grass that grows to as high as 50 feet at a short period of time and one of the most sustainable and readily renewable. Because of its being alternative to lumber it can help reduce destruction of old growth forest.
Among its varied uses are for construction, agriculture/forestry, furniture, interior designs, bamboocraft/gift items, cooking utensils/food containers, garden tools, firewood/charcoal, musical instruments, schools supplies, toys, traditional weapons etc. It may increasingly replace plastics and wood products.
Another important use for bamboo is food. The shoots are used in many Asian countries as a vegetable–sometimes eaten raw, pickled or boiled.
As a promising industry, Bonoan enjoined everyone especially the local government units to support the project. Making use of the abundance of bamboos not just in domestic market but also for export will advance economic growth of the country at the same time preserve the environment and mitigate the looming effects of climate change. (PS Mabaquiao/PIA)