‘Grass of hope’
MANDA (right), with Tayaban.
EDGARDO Manda, the president of Philippine Bamboo Foundation Inc. (PBFI), has been promoting bamboo planting as an alternative in reforestation, because these perennial evergreens act as a carbon dioxide sink that cleans the air and helps prevent erosion—which is why it’s referred to as the “grass of hope.”
Last year, the tragedy at the Irisan dump in Benguet caught the attention of the group, which then assessed if bamboo could be used to arrest the collapse of the mountain of garbage.
Last October, the group launched the First Philippine Bamboo Carving Competition, with the top plum going to Fernando Tayaban. The entries were displayed at the BenCab Museum in Baguio.
To help PBFI nurture its bamboo nurseries, call 0917 845-0708 or e-mail [email protected].
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