The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Bicol inaugurated and turned over a bamboo curing facility and nursery worth PHP6.2 million to a farmers' group in Camarines Sur early this week. In an interview on Friday, Lovella Guarin, DA-Bicol spokesperson, said the facility is expected to boost the productivity and livelihood of the Samahang Organisasyong pang Kalikasan (SOK), which has 84 members in Bula, Camarines Sur. "The bamboo products of the SOK were used as raw materials for fish cages, furniture, bonsai, lampshades, and kubo (nipa huts), which are their major livelihood sources. The bamboo facility was worth PHP4.2 million while PHP2 million was spent on the equipment that will serve as a startup enterprise for the association," she said. In a separate interview, Eddie D. Bermas, SOK president, said the use of machines will significantly speed up their production process and make it more efficient. "Napakalaking tulong po ng binigay ng DA, magiging madali ang paggawa ng aming mga produkto kasi hindi na mano-mano na gamit ang itak at lagari, ngayon meron ng mga machines. Dati halimbawa gagawa kami ng bamboo split inaabot kami ng isang buwan para sa 1,000 pieces, eh ngayon pag idadaan na lang sa machine baka isang araw na lang, kaya sobrang napagaan (The DA gave us a lot of help, it will be easy to make our products because we no longer have to use manual labors now there are machines. Before, for example, we would make bamboo split, it took us a month to finish 1,000 pieces, but now if you just put it through the machine, maybe it will only take a day, so it's a big relief)," he said. Bermas also shared the association's plans to expand its products and market, expressing a willingness to learn more from the DA and other government agencies. Rodel P. Tornilla, DA-Bicol regional executive director, highlighted Bula town's reputation as a producer of bamboo crafts and furniture, with bamboo being its 'One Town, One Product'. He emphasized the support for bamboo as a raw material for livelihood construc tion purposes due to its physical characteristics and its ability to grow in diverse climates and habitats. Source: Philippines News Agency