Dangwa Supports CORBAMDEV in Mitigating Climate Change
11.05.09 -JSTabangcura

The CORBAMDEV Board of Trustees led by Dr. Rogelio D. Colting being inducted by Congressman Samuel Dangwa during the CORBAMDEV General Assembly on November 4, 2009.

     Benguet Congressman Samuel Dangwa expressed his support to the Cordillera Bamboo Development Program through a pledge of Php. 100,000.00 from his Country Wide Development Fund.

     In his short message during the CORBAMDEV General Assembly on Nov. 4, 2009 at the BSU Strawberry Hall, Congressman Dangwa cited the Climate Change Act signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last month.

     “This program (CORBAMDEV) is relevant to the climate change law...this will help us in coping with other disasters that will come,” he said.

     Congressman Dangwa added that the law will institutionalize the effort of the government to mitigate climate change; it will also authorize the government to solicit technical and financial support on climate change from other countries.

     The CORBAMDEV is a collaborative program among bamboo advocates and the people of the Cordillera launched during BSU’s 22nd Charter Day celebration. Its components includes: advocacy, information and communication (IEC) on the ecological and economic use of bamboo; bamboo plantation development and management and; bamboo trading and distribution.

     “Bamboo is seen as reforestation species and for soil erosion control. It is also in demand for the production of various products that cater to local and foreign customers,” reads the CORBAMDEV brochure.

     “We have seen the impact of removing vegetation of areas causing landslides,” said CORBAMDEV Management Officer, Engr. Dante Chichioco.

     “We hope that there will be more vigorous advocacy in our community not only to mitigate landslides but to give additional resources to our community,” he added.

     During the program’s general assembly, bamboo seedlings from the BSU College of Forestry nursery were turned over for propagation to the LGUs of Tuba, Tublay, Buguias, the WINACA Foundation and the Diocese of Baguio and Benguet.

     “We assure that all beneficiaries have undergone training on how to propagate the seedlings,” said Engr. Chichioco.

     It can be recalled that on May 31 last year 2,000 bamboo propagules purchased from the Taihuyuan Landscaping Bamboo Garden in China by the Rotary Club Makati Central were delivered to the College of Forestry Nursery.

     CORBAMDEV is chaired by BSU president, Dr. Rogelio D. Colting. The Board of Advisers includes: Congressman Samuel Dangwa; Governor Nestor Fongwan; Bishop Carlito Cenzon; Undersecretary Edgar Manda; Mr. Conrado Perreras; Mr Alfredo Andaya; Mr. Dexter Quintana; Felix Velasquez; NCIP-CAR director, Amador Batay-an; president of Rotary Club, La Trinidad; DA-CAR director Cesar Rodriguez and; DENR-CAR director Primitivo Galinato, Jr.