Iloilo City – Permit holders in Region 6 have committed to allot a minimum of 1 hectare each for bamboo plantation in support of the Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR) program to plant more bamboo under the National Greening Program (NGP).
So far, twenty-two permit holders have expressed their commitment to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Office 6 (MGB-6) to allocate an area for bamboo plantation.
MGB-6 recorded a total area of 415.9 hectares committed by the permit holders for bamboo plantation. Two mining companies with approved Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) committed to the program. Philex Gold Philippines, Inc. (PGPI) in Sipalay, Negros Occidental committed 1.5 hectares while Semirara Mining and Power Corporation in Semirara, Caluya, Antique committed 394 hectares. Other permit holders in the sand and gravel and mineral processing and production industry committed one hectare each. Three (3) permit holders already have existing bamboo plantations with a total area of 8.5 hectares.
The DENR has identified bamboo as an alternative lumber material and can largely contribute to increasing the country’s forest cover. Secretary Roy A. Cimatu directed the mining industry to contribute in the economic recovery initiatives of the government, one of which is by establishing bamboo plantation within their permit area.
This program aims not to limit the activities to plantation but for the mining companies to ensure that the bamboos planted are cared for and their growth properly monitored. (MGB-6)