DTI Regional Operations Group Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona delivers her keynote speech during the 1st Cagayan Valley Bamboo Business Forum last July 31, 2017 at the Narra Hall, DENR Regional Office No. 02, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Region 2 and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 2 held the 1^st Cagayan Valley Bamboo Business Forum last July 31, 2017 at the Narra Hall, DENR Regional Office No. 02, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.

Aptly themed “Bamboo 2020: Innovation for Sustainability”, the forum provided an avenue for the promotion of various business opportunities such as engineered bamboo production, nursery propagation and management, bamboo furniture production, and bamboo waste utilization.

The activity also discussed the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap 2016 – 2040 and various financing windows offered by Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for Bamboo MSMEs.

Highlighting the event was the creation of the Regional Bamboo Council that will provide a united front for the growth and development of the industry in the region and a venue for collaboration among key industry players, Local Government Units (LGUs), academe, and other concerned agencies.

Among the esteemed pool of experts and speakers were Assistant Secretary Blesila Lantayona, DTI National Industry Cluster Enhancement (ICE) Program Coordinator; Regional Director Judith Angeles, National Bamboo Industry Cluster Coordinator; For. Gregorio E. Santos, Jr., Supervising SRS of DENR – ERDB; Dr. Rico J. Cabangon of DOST FPRDI; Mr. Salvio Valenzuela, Executive Director of the Chamber of Furniture Industry of the Philippines; Engr. Christopher Baga of Mariano Marco State University; and representatives from LBP.

The activity which was attended by 170 stakeholders across the region, is in support to the Industry Clustering Program of the Regional Development Council – Economic Development Committee 02 (RDC – EDC02).

Participants during the 1st Cagayan Valley Bamboo Business Forum on July 31, 2017 at the Narra Hall, DENR Regional Office No. 02, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.