The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 2 recently conducted the DTI National Bamboo Industry Cluster 2022 Mid-Year Assessment via zoom on 30 August 2022, led by Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo, the newly designated National Industry Cluster Coordinator for Bamboo.
RD Ocampo stated in her welcome remarks that DTI has a special responsibility to truly lead the industry’s development due to DTI’s role as Chairman of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC). She also expressed optimism that the other DTI Regional Offices will be able to replicate the national structure of the council at the regional and provincial levels.
Meanwhile, in the message of Usec. Blesila Lantayona, delivered by RD Marcelina Alcantara, urged everyone to contribute to the achievement of the committed programs in the industry cluster roadmap and to strengthen the bamboo industry, which provides many livelihood opportunities for Filipinos.
She also emphasized the importance of the DTI Regional and Provincial Offices as the DTI’s access to partner agencies at the local level through local councils, which coordinate with the PBIDC’s local counterparts, government agencies, local government units, and private organizations.
Bamboo Focal Persons from various regions presented their accomplishments and major activities for the second semester. Among these achievements and initiatives were the enactment of the Local Bamboo Ordinance on “Institutionalizing the Implementation of Bamboo Development Project in the City/Municipality/and providing funds thereof” in LGUs; Bamboo Bike Competition; Bamboo Park Tour; bamboo industry consultation with PUM Netherland Senior Experts for Bamboo Construction; and various Capacity Building Trainings on Bamboo Processing.
In closing, DTI R2 Assistant Regional Director Winston T. Singun thanked all the participants and recapped the best practices of the different regions which could be replicated or scaled up as national programs.
The activity aims to generate updates on the status of DTI’s Bottomline Targets for 2022, and discuss catch-up plans for unmet targets as well as the planned activities for the Philippine Bamboo Month and World Bamboo Day Celebrations in September 2022. ♦
Date of Release: 16 September 2022