THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao del Norte, in partnership with the City Government of Tagum, recently launched the first-ever Engineered Bamboo Processing and Development Facility in Mindanao located at Tagum National Trade School in Apokon, Tagum City.
The project is part of DTI's Shared Service Facility (SSF) Program.
The facility, which consisted of various bamboo processing equipment for primary processing, cutting operations, sanding operation, electric and portable tools, carpentry tools and consumables, and planks and panel for final processing has a total project cost of P3.559 million.
According to data from DTI, the project was conceived in 2010 when the agency provided trainings and equipment for the processing of engineered bamboo and had consequently organized a Bamboo Forum in 2012.
With the implementation of their SSF Program in 2012, a proposal for the provision of a bamboo processing hub in Davao del Norte was made.
Maria Belenda Q. Ambi, officer-in-charge of DTI-Davao, said this is one of the first projects to be approved upon commencement of the SSF Program.
The main objective for the establishment of this facility is to introduce appropriate production processes and manufacturing technologies to MSMEs for e-bamboo and bamboo furniture and fixtures. It also aims to fully utilize the bamboo resources in the province especially since all its local government units have already established their respective nurseries and bamboo propagation projects in partnership with DANA Foundation, the private sector champion for bamboo industry development.
Tagum City has expressed their support in this endeavor with the provision of funds to Tagum National Trade School for the construction of a building to house the equipment. It also signified to look for ways to put bamboo propagation at the forefront of its agricultural projects.
According to Tagum National Trade School principal Dr. Mario S. Gregorio, even the private sector contributed for the inception of this project by donating aggregates to level off the land for building construction.
DTI-Davao del Norte officer-in-charge Romeo L. Castañaga said that this facility will not only serve as training center for senior high school students and individuals who are interested in bamboo processing but will also welcome MSMEs and other stakeholders who wanted to process their raw bamboo.
"This is not the end but just the beginning. The agency is set to conduct more interventions in the future such as product designing and lectures on pricing and costing," Castañaga said.