After a three-year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Talim Island Bamboo Project (TIBP) started to attain its goals of improving livelihood and developing an eco-tourism site with a stakeholder meeting and on-site inspection on October 23, 2023, at Brgy. Gulod, Talim Island, Binangonan, Rizal.
The activity was led by Mr. Edgardo Manda, President of the Philippine Bamboo Foundation, Inc. (PBFI), and Ms Gigi Maristela-Opsomer from the Office of Congressman Jack Duavit with the Local Government Unit of Binangonan headed by Hon. Mayor Engr. Cesar Ynares. It was attended by municipal councilors, department heads, local agencies, and people’s organizations. Representatives from the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), the Rizal provincial offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and media partners were also present.
An overview of the bamboo project, its goals and objectives, the timeline of the activities, climate change mitigation, developments on the site, and livelihood training were discussed during the meeting. Observations were shared after the inspection, such as the conditions of the bamboo planted and harvested, road networks, and cleanliness. Mr. Edgardo Manda of PBFI tackled some practices on proper bamboo production, from planting to harvesting, to maintain the quality and prolong its life span. Security on the site and conservation of other natural resources were also planned.
Commitments of various stakeholders were made from DOST Rizal’s Ms. Arthea Marie Genova and DTI Rizal’s BDD Chief, Ms. Sharon Dioco, as each shared their respective agency’s programs and services that will contribute to the project’s success, like machinery and equipment for bamboo processing, and training and seminars on entrepreneurship, product development, and skills enhancement.
Chief of Staff Ms Gigi Maristela-Opsomer hoped for the full cooperation of the committee as the project starts its activities, targeting to conduct seminars and training on bamboo cultivation and processing in the coming weeks. ♦
Date of Release: 27 October 2023