ALINSUNOD sa matinding promosyon ng industriya ng kawayan, gumawa ng polisya si Agriculture Secretary William Dar na nagdedeklara sa kawayan bilang isang mataas na klaseng pananim.
“We need to bring together efforts in sustaining and making the environment resilient, while at the same time enhancing the economic activities of the sector,” sabi ni Dar sa miting ng Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), kamakailan sa Department of Agriculture (DA).
“With bamboo as a high-value crop, we can undertake various interventions that include basic research, processing and value-adding, and budgetary support, complementing the programs and projects of the PBIDC,” sabi ni Secretary Dar.
“Starting this year, we will have some activities lined up to support the advancement of the bamboo industry,” dagdag pa niya.
Naroon sa miting sina Trade and Industry Secretary at PBIDC chair Ramon Lopez, at PBIDC vice-chair at House deputy speaker Ilocos Sur Repre-sentative DV Savellano.
Ibinahagi nila ang kani-kanilang updates tungkol sa guidelines ng pagpapabuti ng lugar ng commercial bamboo plantation, isang draft ng House Bill sa pagpapabuti ng industriya ng kawayan sa bansa, at pagbalangkas ng technical working groups para sa produksiyon ng kawayan at pagbebenta nito.
Sinabi ni Secretary Dar na ang bagong agri-industrial strategy ng DAR sa ilalim ng “new thinking for agriculture” ay hindi lamang ang pagpapabuti ng farm productivity ang tinitingna, kundi ang pagpapainam ng mas may value-added products para mabigyan ang mga magsasaka at kanilang pamilya ng mas maraming negosyo at trabaho kaya mas maraming kita.
“We need to tap the power of technology to mass propagate bamboo. It would be good if the PBIDC can look at opportunities in providing funding support for bamboo tissue culture to address the lack of planting materials needed to rejuvenate the country’s bamboo industry,” sabi ni Dar.
Binanggit din niya ang importansiya ng pag-iimbita ng mas maraming Pinoy at foreign investors para magtayo ng tissue culture facilities at sumali sa bamboo production and processing.
“Let’s not concentrate on doing it within the government only. If there is a business opportunity, and tissue culture could be one business opportunity for bamboo, then let’s pursue this,” sabi niya.
Pumayag naman si Secretary Lopez, sabay sabi: “May technology na, gamitin na natin. Let us invite the investors para malakihan na.”
“The new strategy is to bring in the private sector and partner with communities and farmers’ groups so that we can elevate the business and income opportunities for the Philippine bamboo industry,” pagtatapos ni Dar.
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