The government’s reforestation effort along selected rivers in the Philippines with various bamboo species is now in full swing, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reported.
Environment Secretary and Task Force Build Back Better (TF-BBB) co-chairman Roy A. Cimatu reported that in the months since the TF-BBB set out to work in November last year, significant post-disaster recovery gains have been realized in the three priority geographic areas for the restoration of Cagayan, Marikina, and Bicol river basins.
In the Cagayan River alone, a total of 3,672 bamboo propagules have been planted covering 18 hectares along the riverbank of the country’s largest river body.
The planting of bamboo along riverbanks is a key flood prevention measure of the DENR chief who is tasked to lead in the nationwide rehabilitation effort of areas recently battered by strong typhoons.
In a news statement, Cimatu said that members of the task force have started work on the enhancement of forest protection activities in Region 1 (Ilocos Region), and the Cordillera Administrative region (CAR) through a tripartite memorandum of agreement signed by the DENR regional offices in these areas last February 5.
On Tuesday, the task force launched the Marikina River Restoration Project with the widening and dredging of some portions of Marikina River.
Initially targeted for dredging is a portion of the river near Marcos Highway in Barangay Kalumpang, while a simultaneous bamboo planting activity will take place on the banks of Barangay Industrial Valley Complex, both in Marikina City.
Cimatu said the restored riverbanks will be planted with bamboo to help prevent riverbank erosion and siltation, one of the strategies that the TF-BBB has adopted in the rehabilitation of Cagayan River.
The DENR chief also pointed out that efforts are now under way to commence the dredging and desilting of Bicol River and Lake Bato, as well as the rehabilitation of floodgates and rivers around Mayon Volcano.
Cimatu explained that the dredging program for Marikina River and Bicol River are also coupled with nature-based solutions, such as the planting of bamboo in stabilizing the river banks.
“We are also looking at the development of bamboo plantations so we can provide livelihood opportunities to communities in outlying areas near these waterways,” Cimatu said.
From February 9-21, a total of 49,509 bamboo culms have been planted, covering approximately 173 hectares, on the river banks of Albay (8,500 bamboo culms), Camarines Sur (30,000 culms), Camarines Norte (10,000 culms), and Catanduanes (1,009 culms).
Some 151,381 bamboo seedlings are now being prepared at the DENR Bicol field offices in time for the planting season in May.
Meanwhile, based on the TF-BBB’s latest report, about 10,000 cubic meters of sand and silt were already removed from Magapit Narrows in Barangay Bangag and Fugu sandbar in Barangay Dummun in the Cagayan River.