The Save Our Forests Now movement this week embarked on its second leg, with more than twice the number of participants joining in reforestation efforts in the province of Rizal.
More than 500 youth participants from the town of Rodriguez (Montalban) planted more than 1,000 bamboo saplings by the river and mountain in Brgy. Mascap in the same town.
“Nakakagalak po na mas marami pa sa ating kabataan ang interesadong makilahok sa kilusan para muling maging luntian hindi lang ang bayan ng Rodriguez, kundi ang buong Rizal.
More of our youth are realizing their potential to be agents of change, and it is truly inspiring to witness them take our beloved province’s destiny into their own hands,” Rizal 2nd District Rep. Fidel Nograles said.
“We plan on making bamboo a viable pillar in our pandemic recovery efforts.”
The neophyte lawmaker said that economic considerations, besides the touted benefits in preventing soil erosion and the rush of floodwater were behind the choice to plant bamboo.
“Bukod sa matibay na panangga sa pagguho ng lupa o “soil erosion” at pag-agos ng tubig-baha mula sa kabundukan sa panahon ng bagyo, ang kawayan ay maaaring maging kabuhayan,” Nograles said.
“Sapagkat likas na mayaman sa kawayan ang Montalban, hangad nating gamitin ito bilang puhunan sa kabuhayan,” he added.
He also said that he plans to provide skills training to residents who wish to rely on bamboo for their livelihood.
The Harvard-trained lawyer added that his office would also open talks with the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry to explore how Rizal could maximize the benefits derived from bamboo.
He also said that he plans to provide skills training to residents who wish to rely on bamboo for their livelihood.
With an end-goal of sustainable development, Nograles said he hopes to create value chains so that Rizal could be a bamboo-processing hub rather than just a possible source of raw materials.
“With the help of these two departments that can provide us with technology and technical know-how, as well as strategic partnerships with the private sector, we plan on making bamboo a viable pillar in our pandemic recovery efforts,” Nograles said.
The neophyte solon, who himself still belongs to the youth sector, launched Save Our Forests Now in December last year in the wake of Typhoon Ulysses, which laid waste to various towns in the province in November.
More than 200 students from Rizal province joined the maiden activity along Wawa Dam in Rodriguez, which was among the hardest-hit areas.