In a collaborative effort to promote environmental sustainability and celebrate the 2024 World Bamboo Day, Mahintana, together with Dole Philippines, Inc., Melts Corporation, and the Local Government Unit of Polomolok, successfully planted 600 bamboo seedlings in Sitio Bato, Barangay Landan. This initiative, which involved the MENRO Polomolok represented by Mr. Eupee Zainal Abedin, the Bureau of Fire Protection represented by SFO4 Garnet Noel A. Balili, Officer-in-Charge of Polomolok Fire Station, PNP Polomolok, and Landan National High School, aimed to highlight the significance of bamboo as a renewable resource and its potential applications in various sectors.
Mahintana Foundationβs Executive Director, Ms. Liza Duropan-Hora, expressed her gratitude to all the participants for their support and emphasized the multifaceted benefits of bamboo, from its carbon sequestration capabilities to its potential as a sustainable building material. She also introduced a bamboo treatment facility, developed in partnership with Base Bahay Foundation, that aims to create an economically viable bamboo-based housing village for indigenous communities in Polomolok, South Cotabato, fostering livelihood opportunities, environmental protection, and cultural preservation.
Engr. Azel Kette Ingles of Mahintana provided an insightful walkthrough of the facility, detailing the nine-step process involved in treating bamboo. She also showcased a bamboo model house, featuring innovative cemented-bamboo frame technology.
Mr. Erwin Bacea from MENRO Polomolok delivered an informative orientation on the environmental and societal significance of bamboo, emphasizing its versatility, rapid growth, and role in preventing soil erosion.
The successful bamboo planting initiative in highlights the commitment of local stakeholders to environmental conservation, sustainable development and a greener future for all.