BAGUIO CITY — Plans are afoot for the city to convert its former open dumpsite into a bamboo forest in compliance with Republic 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act and to double as a source of livelihood for some barangays or villages.
Cordelia Lacsamana, City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) chief, bared this on Monday.
She said the Irisan dumpsite that served the city for over four decades was closed down in 2008 after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a show cause order and mandated its closure.
Lacsamana said the city through Mayor Mauricio Domogan has signed a tripartite agreement with the Philippine Bamboo Foundation (PBF) and other corporate partners for the conversion of the former dumpsite into an eco-park by planting bamboos in the area.
The agreement prescribes that the foundation will propagate and plant bamboos in partnership with some barangays while the private corporations will be the buyers. The proceeds of the sale will form part of the livelihood of the villagers who will take part in the reforestation project.
Lacsamana said the remaining three hectares at the former dumpsite which were fenced will be used as an experimental bamboo plantation site, to convert the area for a different land use as part of the city’s efforts in rehabilitating the area.
The project will be implemented without the city incurring any expense.
Lacsamana said that the phylostakisaurea kind of bamboo, which has roots that branch out and spread to a wide area, will be propagated from January to May 2018 and will be planted in the area as soon as the rainy season starts, to make it grow faster.
When the bamboos reach their harvestable level, they will be sold to the bamboo handicraft manufacturers that are known to have wide local and international market.
The PBF is engaged in bamboo production nationwide, providing the raw materials for manufacturers of handicrafts and furniture. PNA-northboundasia.com