Bamboo plantation development project in La Union

Realizing the need for more commercial bamboo plantations for the bamboo-based industries in La Union and nearby areas, Orallo et al. (DENR Region I) established a 50-ha bamboo plantation in various sites (Barangays Bato, Abut, Namtutan, and Saoay) in San Fernando City and Ambangonan, Pugo, La Union. Selection of the project sites was done in coordination with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)/Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and LGUs. Reconnaissance survey was done giving priority to sites with supportive LGUs, active people’s organization (POs), abundant resource base, and locally available skills.

The entry points were the LGUs (mayors and barangay captains) who built trust and mutual support between the project implementers and project beneficiaries. Greater participation was elicited from the farmer-beneficiaries through clear understanding of the project.

Capacity-building efforts were considered essential. Training on bamboo propagation and plantation establishment was conducted to equip the farmers with technical know-how and needed skills to adopt the said bamboo technologies. Moreover, the cross-visits to the MMSU bamboo plantation sites and exposure of the farmers to various bamboo by products enhanced even more their appreciation for the famous bamboo products.

Field planting was done through the tulong-tulong system. The PO developed 50-ha planted to ‘bayog’ (Dendrocalamus merrillianus) and ‘kauayan tinik’ (Bambusa blumeana) using one-and two-node cutting bamboo technologies. Spacing was 7 m x 7 m.

Active participation of the beneficiaries was observed. Men and women, including children, were actively involved in all activities. Aside from maintaining a communal bamboo nursery, they raised seedlings in their own backyards as source of planting stocks. The women and the children were involved in watering the seedlings.