Bamboo Biodiversity

Bamboo Biodiversity

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Bamboo Business in Mindanao - Technote Bamboo Phils.Inc.

Concept on Bamboo Industry Development in Mindanao

Global situation is facing a number of problems to which bamboo could provide a partial solution. There is a near certainty of wood shortage in the near future. Compounding that is the withdrawal from wood production of forests for conservation reasons. The world population is becoming more urbanized. When employment is provided in rural areas there is a wish that it should have the appropriate scale and adequate local participation in decision-making.



Philippines had suffered tremendous effect of the triple typhoon plus the Low Pressure area that leaves part of the Luzon coastal towns and areas near the lake to be submerged in water until Christmas. These areas had just recovered from typhoon “Reming” and “Sendong” when “Habagat” sits on them. Visayas had been shattered with earthquakes and flashfloods. Moreover, almost every part of the Philippines was suffering from nature’s vendetta. Mindanao, being an isolated part of the country, almost spared from the Gaia’s wrath, it was also isolated from developmental support. It keeps being a reigning “Land of Promise”.




Thus, to have a partial impact on these problems, a solution is needed that has the following characteristics; 1.) A product can be produced that substitutes for wood in the widest range of uses. 2.) The production of that product has positive environmental impacts. 3.) The product can be made in a rural environment to assist in reducing the pressure of urbanization. 4.) The scale of production should be such that rural people are not displaced by it and can participate meaningfully in the activity.



Industry Development based on bamboo can definitely provide part of the answer. Bamboo products do substitute widely for wood-based products. Bamboo is an easy plant to propagate and can be grown in small clumps on fallowed land on farms. Bamboo farming therefore has the appropriate scale for people's involvement. Bamboo is friendlier to the environment than many agricultural high value crops. Bamboo industries moreover can be created at craft and artisan level with maximum community involvement and relatively low to zero capital requirements. Bamboo based industries can therefore provide the time and space for evolutionary development of the rural economy.





Learning from the terrain of Mindanao which has two large catch basins which are Agusan Marsh in Caraga Region and the largest, Liguawasan Marsh in Central Mindanao are holding the torrential rainwater from two elevated areas formed by volcanoes, namely the Mt. Apo in Kidapawan City and the Mt. Kitanglad in Bukidnon Province. The two marshes are rich with freshwater fish and the surrounding flatland is the rice bowl of Mindanao. The forests are gone and the precipitation can’t be hold long by banana hemp and high value crops, flooding in lowlands is a perennial problem, devastating the staple food -rice. Bamboo is foreseen as the solution for the high value crops does not contain the problem, none the less, it worsen the environmental situation and promising farmers with false hope.



The term “sustainable industry” refers not only to environmental issues, but also covers economical and social issues The sustainability value of bamboo industries is assessed based on a definition of “sustainable industry”, from which strategies for improvement of sustainable bamboo products are proposed. These tribulations could somehow be deciphered partially by planting bamboo and looking for possibility of greater market expanse. Pre-fab housing in western countries and in Japan are most preferred and the European Market is going for green materials e.g. bamboo and other renewable materials.




A 30 years old precision designing company, TCN Technote Ltd. Co., owned and managed by Engr. Aki Tsuji, from the bustling city of Hamamatsu in Shizouka-ken, the birthplace of Suzuki, Honda and Yamaha, is coming to Philippines, more particularly in Kidapawan City, the most central part of Mindanao, will bring 12 sets of high precision machines to process Engineered Bamboo from the bamboo stand of Mindanao. This was made possible from the correspondence of Dr. Masaru Imada, a retired General Manager of Meiji Co. Ltd of Japan, the giant confectionary company which manufactures world famous chocolates and nougats.


Being a Mechanical Engineer by profession, Aki Tsuji was able to build and design a bamboo glider and borrowed aeronautical ideas from his uncle Miki Tadanao, who designed Yokosuka P1Y Ginga (“Frances”) attack bomber and the kamikaze (Cherry Blossoms) warplanes of the World War II. After the war, his uncle invented the famous Shinkansen (Bullet Train) which is made of lightweight alloys and derived the aerodynamic design of a plane. Aki and his Team Oceanman eventually bagged the championship trophy last 2007 for his bamboo glider flew a distance of 153.1 meters.




Last 2007, Engr. Aki Tsuji started to conduct series of test with bamboo and he had successfully composed thin sheets of bamboo veneers. He believed that bamboo will replace strong alloys and can be utilized in various ways, according to Tsuji Aki, which most of the time, invents the machine in developing the production process of engineered bamboo. He eventually produced thin sheets of bamboo veneers manufactured from his invented veneering machine.





Engr. Tsuji Aki is having a vision of employing 10,000 Mindanaoans when year 2017 comes and onward. This would probably lessen the poverty rate in a very dramatic way. The domino effect of the development he would be bringing in Mindanao will bear its mark in the future, the passion for the environment and the selfless living in this world. TCN Bamboo Incorporated will produce and export bamboo based products of pre-fab housing materials, ply boards, planks, panels, home furnishings and furniture. Sales and machine designing will also be one of the main business activity and other allied services which bespeak bamboo.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Cotabamboo InDevCon

Summary of Minutes and Proceedings of the Bamboo Industry Development Meeting The Meeting started at exactly 8:15 am by leading the group of participants into the Boy Scout Grass of Hope Nursery Project. The Launching and dedication was led by Pastor Bautista Buan DD. It was attended by BSP Adult leaders, senior scouts and the school Principal, Rosalinda T. Lonzaga, School Divisions Superintendent Ernesto C. Ariaga, Chamber of Commerce Board of Director Chairman Dan C. Zambrano, school administrators and stakeholders. It was started with a prayer and cutting of ribbon and officially declaring the Bamboo Nursery was open for business, the bamboo seedlings to be planted along riverbanks and fallowed land will be sold at Php 30.00 per piece. The business sharing shall be 60% - goes to BSP Outfit 177, 30% goes to Chamber of Commerce and the remaining 10% goes to the school for space rental and water bill. After the cutting of ribbon, the group proceeds to the Home Economics building to formally start the meeting proper. It was commenced with a prayer by the MKCCIFI BOD Adelfa C. Dalumpines – the Leader of the Focus Group of Chamber BOD on Bamboo Industry Development. Welcome address given by Madam Rosalinda Lonzaga, the School Principal and followed by the word of support by the SDS Ernesto C. Ariaga as the Institutional Market of the engineered bamboo in the final form as chairs, desks tables and cabinets. Kidapawan City Schools Division Superintendent Ernesto C. Ariaga had stressed that Sec. Armin Luistro had made a strong expression that armchairs, desks, tables and furniture supplied to DepEd should be made of bamboo and not wood since the issuance of Total Log Ban in EO 26 of PNoy. The challenge is up with the council, there is no present manufacturer of the said market demand of DepEd and the need of the chairs in the anticipated opening of classes, the K to 12 program and the EFA would be interpreted as more chairs, desks, classrooms and furniture are needed. Presentation of the DTI perspective on bamboo industry development framework and the value chain – the downstream process was presented by Angelito Villar – DTI North Cotabato – bamboo industry point person. Three (3) reactors were entertained regarding the presentation, Kagawad Canay of President Roxas raised a discussion that, ...”there were many organizing process done in the past and farmers were encouraged to plant bamboo because of the promising potential and market, and after the series of meetings, organizers were gone into oblivion and nowhere to be found, what would be the future of the said re-organizing and advocacy campaign for bamboo and where would it be going?...”DTI Angelito Villar replied that he has no idea who organizes the said activity in President Roxas, probably, during that year, the marketing scheme for bamboo industry is not visible and stakeholders had not appreciated yet the potential of bamboo. Integrated Rural Development Foundation representative Generosa Catedrilla had asked that there was a council formed last 2009 and what happened to that council. Rimmon Paren answered that on 2009, the elected chairman was then Governor Susing Sacdalan and since the group could not get commitment from the council chairman, it was then agreed to have an audience with the governor with the initiative coming from the vice-chairman and from the representative of the provincial government Mernie Commendador, the plan was never materialized and the group died a natural death. Assurance for the sustainability of the said organizing process of a new bamboo council was the council chairman should come from Private Sector and one who really understand the bamboo and its potential, not for political motive but for the environment and poverty reduction. Composition of the officers should be multi represented and the National Bamboo Council (PBIDC) with the members of the Government Agencies are mandatory members, to wit; DOST, DTI, DA, DENR, DEPED with representative from CSO/NGO, provincial LGU in Planning and Economic Development Office. Other members are to be decided by the Board of the Bamboo Council. Rizal Curutan of the Cotabato Ecology Society Workers Association stated that there was a 600(+/-) hectares of forest conservation area in Amas, Kidapawan City which was declared under the Provincial Environment Code and it could be developed with the thrust of the newly formed council. Dr. Masaru Imada, an Adjunct professor of UP Mindanao – a Japanese Consultant with PhD Degree in Biochemistry, an expert in animal tissue culture, presented the opportunity of the Bamboo industry in North Cotabato by showing to the group the Japanese ingenuity that explores deeply the potential of the bamboo as part of the engineering structure as being developed by the Veneering machine inventor Tsuji Aki in Hamamatsu, Japan, the home of Yamaha products. Dr Imada further stated that he is looking into bringing the technology of the in vitro tissue culture for the bamboo particularly the species used for the engineered bamboo. He had made an initial communication with Dr. Shinjiro Ogita of Toyama University and the tissue culture expert in bamboo propagation will be coming here in Philippines this year. Engr. Tsuji Aki, also a friend of Dr. Imada will pay a visit here in the Philippines this August to discuss his interest over the Mindanao Bamboos and Mr. Tsuji Aki had promised that he will be sending the machines needed for the processing of the Engineered Bamboo (from start to finish) as his way of extending help to Filipinos, and this is for free. Those machines and equipment will just follow later on December to the year 2013, as relayed by Dr. Imada. Mutual cooperation from the council and line government agencies will be sought out for the necessary documents and fees in transporting the said machines. Location of the establishment of processing center and where the machine should be established needs to be considered also by the bamboo council. After the exchange of ideas, comments and suggestions, the group decided to proceed to the election of the Board of Directors, officers of the Cotabato Bamboo Industry Development Council (Cotabamboo InDevCon) and the list of officers are, to viz; Chairman: MARIO CALAYCO – MACLANZON – Pres. Roxas., Cotabato Vice- Chairman: DAN C. ZAMBRANO – BOD Chairman – Chamber of Commerce Secretariat: ANGELITO VILLAR - DTI Treasurer: ADELFA C. DALUMPINES – Chamber of Commerce Auditor: GENEROSA CATEDRILLA – CDO - IRDF Board of Directors: 1. Hon. Lauro Taynan Jr., - Sangguniang Panglungsod - Kidapawan City LGU 2. Karl Jones R. Tanaid – Magpet Municipal Toursim Office – Magpet LGU 3. Allan James C. Lapason – MAFC – Chairman – Pigcawayan LGU 4. Rizal D. Curutan – CESWA 5. Dr. Roberto A. Omandac – Boy Scout of the Philippines – Cotabato Council 6. Nelda R. Tejada – Chamber of Commerce – M’lang, Cotabato 7. Salvador G. Himulatan – Wood Processors Sector 8. Roger S. Papellera – Print Media 9. Rimmon A. Paren – Bamboo Advocate – Chamber of Commerce After the election, the newly elected Chairman, Mario Calayco had made a brief statement on his commitment as the tasks were laid down on him. He briefly emphasized that Pres. Roxas and the rest of the area in North Cotabato Province was not spared by the magnanimous and devastating effect of the law of nature, and it’s time to take concrete and sustainable action, and the problem , he believes, could be partially, if not totally solved by the bamboo plant. Moreover, there was that daily disaster that needs to be addressed, the poverty and lack of opportunity to generate adequate income as these could also be answered by the miracle plant, bamboo. Sangguniang Panglungsod Member Hon. Lauro Taynan Jr., had been moved to support the current trend of bamboo industry development, although he helped in a way, the rubber industry, he had witnessed during the meeting the future of the bamboo and its environmental and social impact. With this new insight, he committed One Million Pesos (Php 1,000,000.00) to help the council and the industry development. The fund will be sourced out from his discretionary fund as member of the city council and the fund will be utilized in the purchase of bamboo seedlings, labor and other incidentals in planting the bamboo along the riverbanks within Kidapawan City. The first meeting of the Cotabamboo InDevCon (CBIDC) will be on June 22, 2012 @ 1:00 pm in Metro Kidapawan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fdn. Inc. office, initial agenda would be the formal installation of office thru the Oath Taking Ceremony, selection process of the Government agencies to be a strategic partner of the council, registration of the council to SEC and prior preparations of paper works and strategic planning for the activities of the council. The meeting was concluded with closing remarks from the BSP Unit Leader – Dr. Nena Paren followed thereafter with the distribution of certificate of participation, and finally a closing prayer from BSP Adult Leader – Rosalinda Morada.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENT CODE OF NORTH COTABATO

PROPOSAL STATEMENT:

The Boy Scout of the Philippines, Kidapawan City National High School Outfit 177 would like to have a project that would generate income, sustain awareness in environmental concern, self reliance and training for future engagement on industry development.

The BSP KCNHS Grass of Hope Project is a joint project to be implemented and managed by the Metro Kidapawan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Incorporated. This is a cost recovery Bamboo Nursery who plans to sell the bamboo propagules to stakeholders like LGU with riverbank erosion problem, Water Districts maintaining a watershed area, reforestation projects and in full support of the National Greening Program of President Aquino Administration and DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro had been looking into the E-Kawayan Technology for armchairs, tables and desks.

GRANT REQUEST:
BSP KCNHS Grass of Hope Project needs and initial amount of PHp 88, 000.00 for the purchase of polybags, garden tools, bamboo propagules, training expense and professional fees and other related expenses in establishing a mini-bamboo nursery in our campus ground.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT/PROBLEM STATEMENT:
Motivation to engage into Income Generating Enterprise is that BSP Kidapawan City has promising youth leaders from which scouting is one of the training ground, moreover, when advancement trainings and regional encampment comes, only those who can afford to shoulder the cost of travel can attend. We tend to solicit on politicians, well off and well meaning individuals and these cycle comes year in, year out. Of course, we do not want to teach our future leaders to always rely on the external assistance and beg for it. We need to slowly diminish the vicious cycle of begging for help, we need to be self – reliant for we are molding our potential leaders to be resourceful enough to solve perennial problems.
ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND METHODS:
The BSP KCNHS would like to initially produce 20,000 ready for planting materials of bamboo propagules (apos, botong, kawayang tinik and bayog variety) after six (6) months. While in the growing and rearing stage, the project partner, Chamber of Commerce will conduct marketing campaign with the LGUs, Water Districts, Private Corporation and other entities interested into bamboo planting and growing in support to the National Greening Program and DepEd’s thrust on leadership training of youth as well as raising environmental awareness campaign. The propagules will be sold at reasonable price so as to generate income and portion of the money raised will be used again for the next cycle of the bamboo propagules growing to cater additional demands on bamboo seedlings. This is a cost recovery project and an income generation to fund scouting events and averting on frequent soliciting of funds to finance scouting related activities.
SUSTAINABILITY AND VIABILITY:
Bamboo propagation does not need sophisticated technology, basically because it belongs to the family of grass, and where grass would grow, it would also grow and the stubborn desire of a grass to proliferate, the bamboo virtually has the characteristic of it. It does not need an extended process of soil analysis for it will thrive as long as there is water, enough sunlight and quality time of care. In five (5) years time, the bamboo grows as a fully grown plant and a ready source for bamboo wood for armchairs, tables and desks. Moreover, the bamboo farmer can start an enterprise with the minimal expense for it does not demand costly farm inputs. It has 5,000 uses according to a published book and global demand of US$10 billion of bamboo market that was waiting to be filled (source: World Bamboo Congress, 2007)
NEW AND UNIQUE:
BSP KCNHS will have a steady stream of income generation to augment their financial needs for trainings and individual development and other projects. This is first in concept on a school based nursery and actively paired by a business sector for the marketing component so as not to hamper the study time of the students involved.
Bamboo Farming is new and innovative way of farm enterprise, this is well introduced in areas where there was no agricultural activities done. It is well recommended to plant along water shed areas, buffer zones and in riverbanks, at 5 x 5 meters quincunx planting method to protect staple crops and erosion. A 1,000 square meters of land strip in the riparian zone planted with bamboo could gain 16,000.00 per month of household income on sale of bamboo poles at 50.00 per pole for engineered bamboo production, after 5 years of incubation period.
With the implementation of EO 26 which is the total log ban, the need for an alternative in wood industry as it needs a replacement and bamboo wood is at par excellence in terms of strength and durability.
PROJECT PROPONENT’S INVOLVEMENT:
BSP KCNHS will hold the day to day activities in watering, weeding and other nursery related activities. They can hire a temporary nursery caretaker on a contract basis to do their part. The MKCCIFI will handle the nursery training, enterprise training and capability building. The latter will also facilitate the marketing and other actual related jobs like deliveries, project monitoring, fund sourcing and among others.
BUDGET SUMMARY:
Projected Expense Amount
Polyurethane Bags 10,000.00
Topsoil 4,000.00
Organic Fertilizer 4,000.00
Garden Tools 10,000.00
Payment for Water and Lights 5,000.00
Capability Building Training (professional Fees and training expense) 30,000.00
Bamboo Propagules 20,000.00
Other related expenses 5,000.00

Total
PHp 88,000.00
Other sources who already committed PHp 20,000.00 for Consultancy Fee (MKCCIFI)
In kind services Php 10,000.00
Project Proponents:
BSP KCNHS Outfit 177
WB Marvin Inting
BSP Coordinator

Neña Cesaria Q. Paren, EdD
BSP Unit Leader
0907 614 4942 / kidapawanbamboo@yahoo.com

Rimmon A. Paren
Rural and Social Development Consultant
METRO KIDAPAWAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND FOUNDATION INC.
2/F Sheer Mktg. Building, Quezon Blvd., Kidapawan City
mkccifi@yahoo.com/ 0908 467 7004

BSP KCNHS GRASS OF HOPE PROJECT

PROPOSAL STATEMENT:

The Boy Scout of the Philippines, Kidapawan City National High School Outfit 177 would like to have a project that would generate income, sustain awareness in environmental concern, self reliance and training for future engagement on industry development.

The BSP KCNHS Grass of Hope Project is a joint project to be implemented and managed by the Metro Kidapawan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Incorporated. This is a cost recovery Bamboo Nursery who plans to sell the bamboo propagules to stakeholders like LGU with riverbank erosion problem, Water Districts maintaining a watershed area, reforestation projects and in full support of the National Greening Program of President Aquino Administration and DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro had been looking into the E-Kawayan Technology for armchairs, tables and desks.

GRANT REQUEST:
BSP KCNHS Grass of Hope Project needs and initial amount of PHp 88, 000.00 for the purchase of polybags, garden tools, bamboo propagules, training expense and professional fees and other related expenses in establishing a mini-bamboo nursery in our campus ground.
NEEDS ASSESSMENT/PROBLEM STATEMENT:
Motivation to engage into Income Generating Enterprise is that BSP Kidapawan City has promising youth leaders from which scouting is one of the training ground, moreover, when advancement trainings and regional encampment comes, only those who can afford to shoulder the cost of travel can attend. We tend to solicit on politicians, well off and well meaning individuals and these cycle comes year in, year out. Of course, we do not want to teach our future leaders to always rely on the external assistance and beg for it. We need to slowly diminish the vicious cycle of begging for help, we need to be self – reliant for we are molding our potential leaders to be resourceful enough to solve perennial problems.
ANTICIPATED RESULTS AND METHODS:
The BSP KCNHS would like to initially produce 20,000 ready for planting materials of bamboo propagules (apos, botong, kawayang tinik and bayog variety) after six (6) months. While in the growing and rearing stage, the project partner, Chamber of Commerce will conduct marketing campaign with the LGUs, Water Districts, Private Corporation and other entities interested into bamboo planting and growing in support to the National Greening Program and DepEd’s thrust on leadership training of youth as well as raising environmental awareness campaign. The propagules will be sold at reasonable price so as to generate income and portion of the money raised will be used again for the next cycle of the bamboo propagules growing to cater additional demands on bamboo seedlings. This is a cost recovery project and an income generation to fund scouting events and averting on frequent soliciting of funds to finance scouting related activities.
SUSTAINABILITY AND VIABILITY:
Bamboo propagation does not need sophisticated technology, basically because it belongs to the family of grass, and where grass would grow, it would also grow and the stubborn desire of a grass to proliferate, the bamboo virtually has the characteristic of it. It does not need an extended process of soil analysis for it will thrive as long as there is water, enough sunlight and quality time of care. In five (5) years time, the bamboo grows as a fully grown plant and a ready source for bamboo wood for armchairs, tables and desks. Moreover, the bamboo farmer can start an enterprise with the minimal expense for it does not demand costly farm inputs. It has 5,000 uses according to a published book and global demand of US$10 billion of bamboo market that was waiting to be filled (source: World Bamboo Congress, 2007)
NEW AND UNIQUE:
BSP KCNHS will have a steady stream of income generation to augment their financial needs for trainings and individual development and other projects. This is first in concept on a school based nursery and actively paired by a business sector for the marketing component so as not to hamper the study time of the students involved.
Bamboo Farming is new and innovative way of farm enterprise, this is well introduced in areas where there was no agricultural activities done. It is well recommended to plant along water shed areas, buffer zones and in riverbanks, at 5 x 5 meters quincunx planting method to protect staple crops and erosion. A 1,000 square meters of land strip in the riparian zone planted with bamboo could gain 16,000.00 per month of household income on sale of bamboo poles at 50.00 per pole for engineered bamboo production, after 5 years of incubation period.
With the implementation of EO 26 which is the total log ban, the need for an alternative in wood industry as it needs a replacement and bamboo wood is at par excellence in terms of strength and durability.
PROJECT PROPONENT’S INVOLVEMENT:
BSP KCNHS will hold the day to day activities in watering, weeding and other nursery related activities. They can hire a temporary nursery caretaker on a contract basis to do their part. The MKCCIFI will handle the nursery training, enterprise training and capability building. The latter will also facilitate the marketing and other actual related jobs like deliveries, project monitoring, fund sourcing and among others.
BUDGET SUMMARY:
Projected Expense Amount
Polyurethane Bags 10,000.00
Topsoil 4,000.00
Organic Fertilizer 4,000.00
Garden Tools 10,000.00
Payment for Water and Lights 5,000.00
Capability Building Training (professional Fees and training expense) 30,000.00
Bamboo Propagules 20,000.00
Other related expenses 5,000.00

Total
PHp 88,000.00
Other sources who already committed PHp 20,000.00 for Consultancy Fee (MKCCIFI)
In kind services Php 10,000.00
Project Proponents:
BSP KCNHS Outfit 177
WB Marvin Inting
BSP Coordinator

Neña Cesaria Q. Paren, EdD
BSP Unit Leader
0907 614 4942 / kidapawanbamboo@yahoo.com

Rimmon A. Paren
Rural and Social Development Consultant
METRO KIDAPAWAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND FOUNDATION INC.
2/F Sheer Mktg. Building, Quezon Blvd., Kidapawan City
mkccifi@yahoo.com/ 0908 467 7004