Bamboo museum launched in Las Piñas

Rep. Cynthia Villar is determined in her effort to make Las Piñas the City of Bamboo.

To mark her birthday, the congresswoman, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-National Capital Region (DENR-NCR) and the office of Sen. Manuel Villar, formally launched yesterday the Bambusetum, a bamboo museum stretching along the city’s riverbanks.

The Bambusetum boasts of 28 varieties out of the country’s 32 bamboo species.

For years, the congresswoman depended heavily on bamboo for the continued success of her river rehabilitation program, dubbed "Sagip-Ilog." Bamboo, which is a cheaper alternative to rip-rapping and building dikes along the riverbanks, proved to be an effective deterrent to soil erosion, giving much relief to the continuing river dredging operations along Zapote and Las Piñas rivers.

The Bambusetum, now planted with nearly a thousand bamboo trees, was conceptualized mainly for the city’s Sagip-Ilog project but Villar is eyeing the bamboo garden as a research haven for students and a major livelihood source in the future.

"We are now looking for a more diverse role of the bamboo in our lives. The bamboo could be a good source of livelihood opportunities just at it is a big boost to our campaign to save the rivers and waterways of Las Piñas. Students can also do their extensive research on bamboo through this one-of-a-kind museum," Villar stressed.

In fact, 80 residents are now undergoing livelihood training on parol-making and other bamboo crafts.

"When the bamboo trees mature, we can expect production of parol and other crafts made of bamboo here in Las Piñas. This early, we are already providing residents with ample knowledge and training on bamboo craft-making."

To date, over 5,000 bamboo trees stand tall along Las Piñas City’s riverbanks, not only sprucing up the landscape but effectively preventing soil erosion.

"Las Piñas is known for the centuries-old and world-renowned bamboo organ. Soon, it will be known as Metro Manila’s City of Bamboo. After all, the bamboo signifies our resiliency as a people and a nation," Villar said.

In addition to the Sagip Ilog project, Villar facilitated the installation of a steel wire mesh strainer across the river to prevent garbage clogging.

"Para yung mga nakalutang na basura ay masasala na at maiwasan ang pagbabara sa ilang lugar sa ilog," Villar said.

Villar also donated one backhoe with barge, one tug boat with motor and one dump truck for the river rehabilitation program.

She also inaugurated yesterday the new ground floor waiting area of the Las Piñas Integrated District Hospital (LPIDH) and the out-patient department located on the hospital’s third floor to provide patients with better health care services.

Villar also awarded a total of 500 "pabahay" contracts to family beneficiaries in barangay CAA, Las Piñas.