Kalinga holds first-ever Bamboo Summit; preparations to boost bamboo industry eyed

Tabuk City - Bamboo growers, industry experts, and local officials convened to discuss sustainable cultivation and processing methods aimed at supporting the production of bamboo-based products for the iKalingas.

Hosted by the Kalinga State University (KSU), the ‘1st Kalinga Bamboo Summit’ was held on June 4 and brought together stakeholders in the bamboo industry.

Bamboo innovation in the province has gained significant force, supported by partnership among local government units, academic institutions, and national agencies, and thus the holding of the event. 

With the forum, participants were provided essential knowledge and skills needed to cultivate, process and strategize bamboo trees into a sustainable innovation, empowering individuals to be innovative with the use of bamboo.

Several speakers from the Department of Science and Technology – Forest Products Research and Development Institute shared and discussed various topics, key issues and advancements in bamboo development - these include bamboo preservation, treatment processing and utilization, bamboo plantation, and bamboo market prospects and business opportunities, among others.

Those who shared their expertise were Mylene Rizare, Standards and Research Section (SRS) II, Management System Development Division – Bureau of Philippine Standards (MSD-BPS), and Engineer Jovito A. Elec, Senior SRS, Technology Innovation Division - Science and Packaging Development Section (TID-SPDS).

Other speakers who are into the bamboo industry included Jose Pangsiw under Massalinga Musical Instruments and Handicrafts, who focused on bamboo instruments; Engineer Christian S. Camacho, Senior SRS, TID- Engineering Products Development Section; Jimmy S. Gamazon, Quezon, Isabela Mayor; Renie M. Ramos, Provincial Director of the Department of Trade and Industry-Kalinga, and Victorino D. Bayed, Associate Professor V and Project Leader of KSU Bamboo Project.

In 2022, Governor James Edduba launched the Kalinga Provincial Bamboo Industry Development Council - a provincial body tasked to look at the production and marketability of bamboo products in the province.

With the ongoing support from various stakeholders, the participants of the summit said Kalinga is prepared to grow its bamboo industry and meet global demand.