‘Hope’ aplenty in Laguna

One of my favorite Inquirer columnists, Rina Jimenez-David, mentioned in her June 27 article the many uses of the lowly bamboo in Mainland China, as told by former MIA (Manila International Airport) administrator and LLDA (Laguna Lake Development Authority) general manager Edgardo “Ed” Manda at the Bulong Pulungan at Sofitel.

According to David, Manda’s “devotion to bamboo was cemented during a visit to China, particularly to the province of Zhejiang, where he and his group were oriented on the propagation of bamboo and on the many uses of this versatile and fast-growing plant…. Manda showed how in China they have been able to develop bamboo for uses such as construction (including floor tiles), beauty and health products, animal feed, charcoal, anti-cancer medication, juice and shampoos.”

Here in our country, particularly in Laguna province, there are plenty of bamboo growing naturally; others have been planted along the boundaries of coconut plantations. As pointed out by Manda, who heads the Philippine Bamboo Foundation Inc., “We need only to look to Mainland China to see how the ‘hope’ of bamboo could easily turn into a prosperous reality.”

—CRISOSTOMO B. VILAR,

vice mayor,

Pagsanjan, Laguna