URBAN FARMER

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BY JULIO P. YAP JR.
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MEMBERS of the Manobo tribe in the highland villages of the municipalities of Rosario and Bunawan in Agusan del Sur are expected to benefit from the propagation of giant bamboo in their area.

This is just part of the various livelihood opportunities being provided by the Philsaga Mining Corporation (PSMC) for the indigenous people under its social development programs in the province of Agusan del Sur.

The giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) was specifically chosen because it is one of the fastest growing plants in the world – with a reported average growth of about three to 10 centimeters per day, and can even grow to as much as 100 centimeters in about 24 hours, depending, of course, on the local soil and climate conditions.

Aside from being a fast grower, one- to two-year-old giant bamboos are alreadyavailable for the manufacture of different kinds of handicrafts, which require pliable bamboo splits, thus, livelihood opportunities could start early for the members of the Manobo tribe.

For the implementation of the project, the members of the Manobo tribe were tapped to plant more than 3,500 seedlings of giant bamboo in an initial area of six hectares last October.

During the initial four years, the giant bamboo can be seen as a complementary crop that could fill a target market, rather than a cash crop.

But after this initial stage and beyond, profitable sustainable yields could already be attainable without additional expenses for replanting.

Eventually, it is expected to become a primary yearly cash crop for the members of the Manobo tribe.

The project, which was said to be the first-ever in Mindanao, was conceptualized in line with the objective of the Department of Trade and Industry to provide livelihood opportunities for the local residents of the two municipalities, aside from protecting the environment.

The giant bamboo, which releases more oxygen than trees, will also help stabilize riverbanks, regulate watersheds, protect against soil erosion, and recycle water nutrients.

To fast-track the nursery development of its bamboo project, the PSMC has already produced some 3,500 giant bamboo nodes within its concession area, particularly along the flat grounds near its tailings storage facility.

Initially, six hectares are now being developed by the PSMC to intensify further its “Green Gold Project” through giant bamboo production in the province of Agusan del Sur.

The company has already reforested around 560.67 hectares of lands under its Mining Forest Program, and another 643.26 hectares in the surrounding areas in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the National Greening Program.

For this year alone, the PSMC was able to plant 24,346 assorted forest trees, 57,344 different fruit trees, and some 21,145 rubber trees.

It was learned that the PSMC is currently elevating its greening efforts and bent to pursue giant bamboo production.

The PSMC’s giant bamboo project is part of the government’s commitment to reforest at least 500,000 hectares with bamboo.

Aside of the indigenous people, the project will also benefit the other communities in the area./PN
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Ni Ime Sornito
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Syudad sang ILOILO – Patay ang isa sa duha ka high-value targets sa pagduso sang ilegal nga droga kag subjects sa warrant of arrest para sa kaso nga two counts of murder sa operasyon sang Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 6 sa Barangay Ticud, La Paz alas-3:34 sang hapon kahapon. Gindeklarar nga dead-on-arrival sa West Visayas Medical Center si Aslani Ansari alyas Boy nga nakaagom sang pilas sa lawas. Na-aresto naman ang upod sini nga si Alex Mapandi alyas Angari/Agie, 31. Sandig sa report halin kay Senior Supt. Marlon Tayaba, hepe sang CIDG-6, upod ang mga katapo sang Special Weapons And Tactics kag Iloilo City Police Office, plano nila nga i-serbe ang warrant of arrest para sa kaso nga two counts of murder kontra sa duha sang nagluntad ang insidente. Ginapasuni nga nagbatu si Ansari paagi sa pagtiro sa isa sa mga katapo sang CIDG-6 rason nga na-puersa ang mga otoridad nga magbalos kabangdanan sang iya kamatayon. Narekober naman sa paghinakop sang duha ang duha ka mga pusil kag pila ka plastic sachets sang ginapatihan shabu. Sa interbyu naman sang mga katapo sang media kay Senior Insp. Rey Sumagaysay, hepe sang La Paz PNP, sanday Ansari kag Mapandi ang ginatudlo mga suspek sa pagpatay paagi sa pagsunog sa isa ka Muslim nga nasapwan nga naputos sa plastic sa circumferential road sa Brgy. Balabago, Jaro sang tinalikdan nga bulan./H

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