Importance of bamboo during calamities tackled in seminar by Carolina Bamboo Garden

The Carolina Bamboo Garden in Antipolo City held its 25th Bamboo Training/Seminar this October, where bamboo experts discussed the importance and manifold uses of bamboo, as well as how to propagate and manage the sustainable plant.

According to Vonne Aquino's report on "Unang Balita" on October 21, the "Learn and Earn from Bamboo Experts" seminar highlighted the importance of bamboo in housing and how this can help save lives during calamities like typhoons and earthquakes.

Engr. Felipe Luis Lopez, general manager of Base Bahay Foundation, presented their foundation's research on Cement Bamboo Frame Technology and how this is used to create sustainable and durable housing that can withstand disasters.

The Cement Bamboo Frame Technology is based on the South American building system called "Bahareque Encementado," combined with European engineering fit for the Philippine environment.

Per the report, the foundation created three test houses using the technology in Bicol, which were hit by Typhoon Glenda in 2014. The result? The test houses were able to withstand the typhoon, while the bahay-kubo beside them collapsed.

Carolina Gozon-Jimenez, owner and founder of the Carolina Bamboo Garden, also emphasized the benefits of bamboo.

"Iba ang nature ng bamboo. Talagang natural ang dating nun and this is Filipino kaya 'yan ang ating ginagawa, tsaka mura. Malaki ang halaga na namemenos natin. At the same time, pag gumamit ka ng bamboo, [it's] healthy, it absorbs more carbon dioxide and emits more oxygen," she said.

The seminar also featured experts from the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources who tackled bamboo propagation, plantation, development, and management.

Participants were taught how to make charcoal from bamboo as a potential source of livelihood, as well as the high value crops financing program for those interested to go into the bamboo business.

The Carolina Garden Museum, which first launched in 2000, is home to indigenous and exotic plant varieties. A project of the Majent Foundation and the Ecosystem Research Development Bureau (ERDB), it aims to help create an ecologically balanced environment through the propagation and distribution of exotic and indigenous bamboo seedlings.

Forty-five bamboo species have been collected and cultivated in the garden. It also features an interactive bamboo museum, bamboo treatment and bamboo propagation areas, the bambusetum, a butterfly garden, and more.

— CDC, GMA Integrated News