UNDER its Grants-In-Aid program, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has extended over P3 million worth of grant to Kawayan Collective (KC) in Dauin town in Negros Oriental.

To support the bamboo industry in the province, DOST Provincial Director Gilbert Arbon said the funding-grant enables Kawayan Collective’s engineered bamboo materials to be more sophisticated and advanced rather than the usual use of traditional treats of bamboos.

The purchase of Eco-Dryer and establishment of Bamboo Learning Center inaugurated on February 15 are part of the assistance provided by DOST, Arbon said.

Co-founder Architect Ray Villanueva of KC said the aid greatly helped in setting up the learning center for hands-on training and learning the bamboo value chain.

Villanueva said this project will not only upgrade the production capabilities, but will also boost the bamboo industry in the community and in the province as a whole.

“This is an opportunity to have sustainable livelihood in the community for bamboo harvester, craftsman or architect, builders with proper machinery support,” said Villanueva.

The company produces hundreds of local engineered bamboo materials for attractive treated bamboo panels, poles, floors, furniture as well as for socialized housing.

DOST expects this partnership will be more productive and efficient in the production and contribute more to the bamboo industry.

“Putting up this Bamboo Academy where agencies in the government can have a venue to conduct training for workers in the bamboo value chain, as we also equip it with tools to really have more hands-on (experience) because we want KC to take the lead to have a bamboo artisan or craftsman here,” said Arbon. (PIA)