Concepcion People’s Org trains in bamboo propagation

Partnering with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Sara, Palm Concepcion Power Corporation (PCPC) conducted a Bamboo Propagation training workshop.

PCPC is the owner and operator of the 135-Megawatt Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion Power Plant located in Concepcion, Iloilo.

Last June, a total of 30 Concepcion, Iloilo residents attended the 2-day activity. They are part of the four People’s Organizations (PO) in the municipality which manage PCPC’s environmental activities like mangrove and upland tree planting.

DENR CENRO Sara experts taught the attendees the basics of propagating bamboo, including the proper way of putting together a seedlings nursery. During the workshop proper, all participants have to demonstrate correctly how to choose bamboo cuttings and how to plant these to grow as seedlings.

“We organized the training not just to equip our PO members the skills, but to eventually be able to contribute to the socio-economic development of the communities and protect Mt. Apitong,” Dan Baliao Jr., PCPC Community Relations Coordinator, and project lead said.

PCPC is introducing bamboo in its reforestation efforts on Mt. Apitong not only because of its fastgrowing nature and efficient soil stabilizing capability but also because it can provide abundant materials which can be utilized by residents in lieu of cutting trees.