ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal - The national government is rounding up its resources and support agencies for a projected bamboo industry boom beginning in this province, it was learned in a stakeholders' consultative meeting here recently.
Various stakeholders in this province are now working with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to make the bamboo industry one of the flagship projects of the government under the National Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project (NICCEP).
The DTI has already gathered all stakeholders and industry players engaged in the production, processing, supplying, support services, marketing, financing, advocacy and promotion of bamboo for livelihood and economic development both in the public and private sector including the sector of the academe.
The NICCEP program aims to intensify the promotion and development of bamboo as a focused industry in Rizal, particularly in Antipolo, Cainta, and Pililla.
Representatives from the local government units in the province, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Meralco Foundation Inc., and the Rizal provincial government also attended the meeting.
Cottage Industry Technology Center Executive Director Frankline Bonoan discussed the E-Bamboo Program and the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program while the provincial government, represented by its planning officer Angelito Amoroso presented the situation of the bamboo industry in the province.
During the meeting, DTI Rizal Director Mercedes Parreño revealed that the agency is looking forward to participate in the upcoming National Bamboo Summit to be held at the Philippine Trade Training Center in Pasay City on October 2, while its provincial counterpart, the Provincial Bamboo Industry Congress will tentatively happen also next month.
