The House Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga (1st District, Quezon) adopted House Resolution No. 197, which seeks to proclaim the month of September as “Philippine Bamboo Month” to promote the importance of bamboo in the daily lives of Filipinos.
The resolution, authored by Deputy Speaker and Ilocos Sur Rep. Deogracias Victor “DV” Savellano also seeks to mandate all government agencies, including local government units (LGUs), to celebrate “Philippine Bamboo Month” by planting bamboo in suitable areas within their respective jurisdictions.
Savellano said 10 years ago, countries around the world celebrated the First World Bamboo Day in Bangkok, Thailand and dedicated the day to honor bamboo.
“Millions of Filipino farmers and fisher folks depend on bamboo for their livelihood.”
The legislator added that bamboo is the ubiquitous construction material of the country, particularly in the rural areas, and millions of Filipino farmers and fisher folks depend on it for their livelihood.
The resolution further states that Filipinos cannot go about their daily chores without using one or two utensils made of bamboo. Moreover, bamboo shoots are providing nutritious food not only in the rural areas but also as an ngredient in recipes in expensive and leading restaurants in the country, it states.
the lawmaker mentioned that the world-famous Bamboo Organ can be found only in the Philippines. High quality designer furniture and handicrafts from the country are also made of bamboo and is becoming a medium for carving.
“Bamboo is also effective in controlling soil erosion and in land restoration.”
Bamboo is also effective in controlling soil erosion and in land restoration, sequestering carbon and absorbing heavy metals in mined-out areas.
“The resiliency of bamboo against various environmental disasters represents the resilient spirit of the Filipino against similar vicissitudes in life,” the resolution states.