LA TRINIDAD Benguet -- Benguet State University (BSU) Dean Dante Chichioco of the College of Forestry said the proliferation of bamboo plants here could deter erosion preventing damages and death.
Chichioco said the bamboo production in the province has to be encouraged. "We can make this as an alternative livelihood for farmers."
Bamboo can be used for rehabilitation. "We can already start using our local varieties, as far as shoot production is concerned, we would like to inform the public that wala pong masama sa pag harvest ng rabong dahil kailangan naman talagang bawasan natin yung bamboo shoots na tumutubo sa mga bamboo stands."
Exotic varieties abound in the province Chichico said, like the Chinese and American species.
BSU president Rogelio Colting earlier said plan to harness carbon credits through the bamboo production is also underway. Application for carbon credit for bamboo stands is a potential project later on.
Colting said "if we will have the whole province filled with bamboo, we will now have a bamboo province, which will mean a lot for carbon crediting. There is a system whereby the producer of the bamboo is given financial support as if a certain organization will pay the producer of the bamboos because of his contribution to carbon sequestration."
Meanwhile, a Bamboo Techno Forum and Industry Exposition is ongoing for three days here to tap the unlimited resources for the crop.
The forum is in collaboration with Cordillera Bamboo Development Council, Department of Trade and Industry-CAR, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Bamboo Network of the Philippines (BambooPhil) with the theme, "Bamboo for the people and the environment."
The activity will feature various products made from bamboo and the e-bamboo technology used in manufacturing the DepEd bamboo desk.
The activity aims to showcase new trends in bamboo processing, exhibit various products obtained from bamboo, and provide a venue for business networking to market bamboo products. (Ma. Elena Catajan)