Cimatu sees engineered bamboo as substitute to wood
BAYAMBANG—After visiting the CS First Green’s engineered bamboo factory in this town last Wednesday, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu vowed to increase bamboo seedling planting under the National Greening Program (NGP) from 20 percent to 40-45 percent due to the grass’ high survival rate and usability as compared to other tree or plant seedlings.
Cimatu said bamboo will be substituted to wood or lumber because other tree or plant seedlings have low survival rate due to incompatible land fertility, especially in Central Luzon.
“While we are aspiring for 85 percent in NGP, a level experienced in Surigao and Agusan, bamboo has higher survival rate,” Cimatu said.
“We lack wood here in the country, and bamboo could be a substitute for lumber. It is sturdier and it is also termite-free,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mayor Cezar Quiambao said the factory is just a pilot plant and not ready for the full industrialization.
“This is here to show that
there is such thing as engineered bamboo,” he said. “This is a good project
especially for idle lands by idle hands, and will have a high impact to our
poverty alleviation program and the government’s NGP,” he said.
He said
the factory is initially producing bamboo planks, flooring, tiles, walls and
wood panels and there are 300 hectares of land planted with bamboo, but they
target 500 hectares.
“With the Integrated Forest Management Agreement with DENR, the plantation will increase to 10,200 ha, which will include seven towns in Western Pangasinan,” Quiambao said. (Helen Martin)
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