Vergara, Domogan lead bamboo regreening of Baguio watersheds

BAGUIO CITY – To support environmental preservation in Baguio, Congressman Bernardo Vergara and Mayor Mauricio Domogan led in the planting and propagation of bamboos in seven major watershed reservations and two other forested areas of the city since last year.

“However, this time around, Baguio’s watersheds would not be regreened or planted with the usual Benguet pine seedlings, but with bamboo saplings. This bamboo reforestation project and the establishment of bamboo nurseries will be replicated in all seven watersheds of Baguio City and elsewhere,” Vergara said.

            

As of March 26 this year, he pointed out, a total of 50,000 bamboo saplings have already been planted in Busol, in Buyog, as well as in the Camp 8 watersheds, and in Sto.. Tomas, Military Cut-off, the Pines Trees of the World park, and the Botanical Garden, while similar planting activities soon followed in other watersheds in and around the city.

            

Other places soon to be included are in Lourdes Subdivision Extension, Camp John Hay, and Forbes Park.

            

According to project coordinator and Military Cut-off Barangay Captain Edmundo Gundran, this resulted, after city government officials led by Vergara started to adopt bamboo as an alternative forest cover in the dwindling pine tree population of Baguio.

Vergara explained that this alternative reforestation project aims to address the water shortage problem in Baguio, soil erosion and to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

According to research, he continued, improved bamboo varieties are one of the most suitable plant materials to combat the current exponential increase in hillside soil erosion, particularly for the control of ravines. Studies show that the root system of bamboos will hold back a lot of the erosion, although some silt will pass by steep areas, but when the land levels out somewhat below the gullies, hedgerows are planted to hold back remaining silt.

The latest regreening activity, which was led by Vergara, Bishop CarlitoCenzon of the Roman Catholic Vicariate of Baguio City, and Baguio Water District (BWD) Chairman MoisesCating last March 26, they and volunteers from the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the community and students planted about 5,000 bamboo saplings at Military Cut-Off.

This was preceded last March 9 by a similar group led by Vergara, Cenzon, Cating and Domogan at the Busol Watershed portion of Baguio, where students and police volunteers planted another 5,000 bamboo saplings.

            

Previously, Vergara said that another 5,000 bamboo saplings were also planted at the Camp 8 Watershed Reservation with the help of barangay officials and residents there.

Vergara said that all these are part of their bamboo reforestation project with Domogan and the rest of their group, in cooperation with Philippine Bamboo Foundation president Ed Manda, and the Baguio Water District, where an initial P4-million was sourced from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for the ongoing first phase, and a similar amount was also appropriated for its second phase.

“Like what we have always been saying, we can achieve much more if we cooperate with each other for the benefit of the city. A congressman’s job is not only to forge laws, but this must be balanced with projects like this, which is aimed at benefitting our city,” Vergara added.