Pagcor funds Alaminos City's bamboo project

ALAMINOS CITY, Pangasinan -- The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) and the city government here have embarked on a P31-million livelihood project that aims to benefit some 10,000 locals.

Pagcor chairman and chief executive officer CristinoNaguiat said under the project dubbed “Hundred Islands (HI) Engineered Kawayan,” a fully functional bamboo factory will be built to mass-produce high-quality furniture and school armchairs using engineered bamboo as material.

Currently, Alaminos City has a mini-factory housing machines procured from the Mariano Marcos State University for bamboo furniture production.

Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza said through Pagcor’s funding, the city government could further develop the bamboo industry in the Ilocos region, and eventually create new businesses and job opportunities in Pangasinan.

He said nearly 10,000 folk in Alaminos City and nearby towns will directly benefit from the project.

“Pagcor’s assistance will have a domino effect in the city’s economic development program. Bamboo producers, workers and family enterprises will benefit from the project, not only Alaminians but also those living in the nearby towns of the first district of Pangasinan,” Braganza said.

The first district, which includes Alaminos City, is the major supplier of bamboo in the province and Metro Manila.

GesterTolentino, Alaminos City agriculturist and project coordinator for e-Kawayan, said the project will initially supply the armchair requirements of the Department of Education.

“Our goal is to address the 6,000 school chair requirements of the public schools in Alaminos. We hope to supply the other armchair requirements of the rest of Pangasinan in the coming years,” he said.