Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and provincial officials led the launching of the Bamboo Seedling Propagation at the Panaad Park in Bacolod City, Thursday, August 5, in support to the Provincial Integrated Water Security Program in the Malogo River Watershed.
Lacson said as society progresses towards globalization and modernization, there is also a greater demand for water from already scarce resources. The problem of water security is further aggravated by pollution, water borne diseases, and destruction of watersheds.
“Water security is among the most serious issues our present world is confronted with. At the homefront, Negros Occidental is getting vulnerable due to our rapid population growth, urbanization, and water demand,” he said.
“Today, we as we have this bamboo seedling propagation, it is my hope that this activity will be the start of our serious efforts in promoting the planting of bamboo, and will remind us yet again, that without serious and committed intervention, the decline of the state of our environment, including that of our water security will continue to persist, and inevitably, worsen,” the governor said.
Bamboos are great for soil stabilization and erosion control, have high carbon sequestration of up to 12 tons per hectare, per year, help prevent flash floods, and good substitute for wood, a Capitol press release said.
The activity is also in support to the Safe Water Project, which aims to improve water security among communities that face water shortage, by increasing access to water supply, sanitation, and sustainable water sources, it said.
The activity is themed, “Growing Bamboo with Barangay Kapitolyo”.
The activity Thursday, spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, was participated in by Negros Occ. SP Members Juvy Pepello, Andrew Montelibano, Pal Guanzon, Miguel Alonso and Samson Mirhan, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, Capitol department and office heads, and representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other government agencies, who were grouped into four clusters, and took turns in planting the bamboo propagules.*