Ecologically designed, weather-proof Bamboo House unveiled soon

Wednesday, 15 October 2008 18:25

FIRST Gentleman Mike Arroyo will lead the launch of the very first ecologically designed and weather-proof economical Bamboo House at the opening day of the National Bamboo Development Forum (NBDF) from October 22 to 24 at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City. The Bamboo House is designed to withstand any weather structurally and built to resist the country’s tropical climate. Made primarily of the versatile and recognized sustainable building materials with very little or no other construction supplies, this uniquely-constructed Bamboo House will serve as a model to be replicated in a conceptualized Bamboo Village for the economically-challenged. The Village will not only have houses made of bamboo, but will be complete with structures like school, market and community center. Environment Secretary Lito Atienza will be keynote speaker at the opening of the three-day Forum, the main organizer of which is the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA). The forum will feature emerging investment opportunities for bamboo in the country, the Forum, according to LLDA chief Edgar Manda. Environmental goals focused on bamboo as planting material are envisioned to be reconciled with the enterprise aspects of bamboo growing and processing to provide the economic incentive for establishing bamboo plantations, Manda explained. Although efforts on networking and establishing linkages have already been initiated, Manda said that the holding of a national forum on bamboo “is an important first step toward a national program for the development of this commodity.” Arroyo, who initiated the study and evaluation of the potentials of “the lowly bamboo” some years back, had in mind presenting the poor with a livable community making use of indigenous materials. Planting bamboo, parts of which—from root to tip —have about 1,500 productive uses, will also be part of the community interest and activity. The NBDF is organized by the LLDA in collaboration with other government, nongovernment organizations, the academe, research groups, and other stakeholders. This will serve as a venue for assessing the bamboo industry in the country, review the 1997 Philippine Bamboo Master Plan, and formulate a strategic action plan for its sustainable development in the Philippines. Roundtable discussions will be participated in by policymakers, industry leaders, students, entrepreneurs, government representatives, and members of the research and scientific community. There will also be trade fairs and exhibits. For inquiries on the forum, please call: Lennie Borja, LLDA, Rizal Provincial Capitol Cmpd., Pasig City (02)6377581 & 3001453, e-mail red@llda.gov.phThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Dr. Ramon Razal, FFPS, UPLB-CFNR, (049)5363432 & 6411207, ramoncfnr@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; and Dr. Aida Lapis, ERDB, College, Laguna (049) 5362509 & 9089743, acbl2002@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .