Regional Bambusetum rises in Surallah, South Cot. A regional facility housing a living collection of different species of bamboo called “bambusetum” is now being developed in the Municipality of Surallah in South Cotabato. This was bared recently by Dr. Bighani M. Manipula, Regional Technical Director for Research of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region XII during the recently concluded Regional Technology Forum on Bamboo held here. The project is recognized to have a significant role in the transfer of environment and natural resources(ENR) technologies and necessary in the adoption and application of technologies by stakeholders and adaptors. As such, the DENR XII and the Municipal Government Surallah agreed to engage in collaborative work and administrative support in the establishment and maintenance of a demonstration area for bamboo technologies called “bambusetum” in Region XII. A memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DENR XII and the Local Government of Surallah sealed off the partnership which is seen as a boon to the fast-growing bamboo industry in the region. DENR XII Regional Executive Director Datu Tungko M. Saikol and Honorable Mayor Antonio O. Bendita were principal signatories to the agreement in a simple signing ceremony held last August 22 in Surallah. Director Saikol said that once fully established, the bambusetum in Surallah shall serve as a center for bamboo genetic resource exchange, and eventually become a source of planting materials in the region. “Not only that, we foresee that this bambusetum will also serve as a venue and learning site in spreading knowledge and increasing people’s awareness and interest on bamboo conservation, propagation and utilization,” Saikol claimed. The project which is landscaped can be ran as an LGU economic enterprise with revenues generated from the entrance fees and the sale of planting materials according to Dr. Manipula. The bambusetum is located within the periphery of the six-hectare LGU-operated cluster sanitary landfill in Barangay Colongulo in Surallah. Under the MOA, the DENR shall be responsible in the collection and planting of bamboo seedlings. “The DENR researchers are doing continuous collection of planting materials. We have targeted to collect and plant a total of 200 species of bamboo, both endemic and exotic, within a two-year period starting this year,” Dr. Manipula said today. There are 1,250 species of bamboo worldwide. An initial funding of P100,000 from the region and another P100,000 as counterpart fund from the Central Office were allotted for the project. (Manuela Calungsod-Locsin/DENR XII)
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 02:12:01 +0000
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