TACLOBAN CITY – The first-ever bamboo industry summit in Leyte will be held on Wednesday (Nov.16) with several national officials expected to grace like Environment and Natural Resources Sec. Toni Yulo Loyzaga.
The bamboo industry summit is an initiative of Palo Mayor Remedios ‘Matin’ Petilla who is also the president of the mayors’ league of the province.
Mayor Petilla, in organizing the summit, hopes that the summit will spur a province-wide bamboo planting as a disaster mitigation and also to help boost local economy by producing bamboo-engineered products.
During the summit, Leyte province is set to launch the Bamboo Industry Development Program, a first in the country.
Among the speakers of the summit include Security Adviser and chairperson Emeritus, Bamboo Warriors Philippines Secretary Clarita Carlos; former agriculture secretary Manny Piñol; Rimmon Parren an advocate, Giant Bamboo Program; Mark Sultan Gersava of Bambuhay Foundation; and Development of the Philippines President Emmanuel Herbosa.
Prior to the summit, an exhibit featuring bamboo-made products is set to be displayed at the Oriental Hotel de Leyte from Nov 15 to 16.
These include a bamboo toothbrush embedded with a seed that could be planted after use; bamboo kitchen and dining utensils; bamboo bicycle and furniture, tiles, panels, and office tables.
Planting materials of giant and iron bamboo will also be shown and sold at the summit.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
