written by: Jay Ar T. Taperla
To strengthen its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development, the Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC), in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Tayo ang Kalikasan Task Force, Rotary District 3800, Ready Reserve Battalion Task Force, and Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), established a bamboo nursery through a ceremonial potting of bamboo cuttings in front of the Teacher Education building, May 5.
Technical Assistant of DENR’s Task Force Tayo ang Kalikasan, Mr. Roberto Feliciano, congratulated and thanked the College for its support for their programs for the environment.
“… we, at the DENR, would like to thank the students, faculty, and administration for their initiative to actively support and join the government in its task of protecting and conserving our natural resources,” Mr. Feliciano said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rene E. Madarang, Executive Director of PBIDC shared the wide range of uses of bamboo not only as an agent for mitigating climate change, but also in boosting sustainable industry wherein he showed various bamboo products such as tumblers, ballpen, dining utensils, mobile phone amplifier, as well as bamboo soap, shampoo, and facial wash.
“Dinala ko po ito kasi nga polytechnic college kayo [and] you’re into vocational-technical courses… so, kailangan ma-inspire kayo at ma-motivate na ‘yung inyong gagawing nursery ay may pupuntahan… maraming produkto,” Mr. Madarang said.
He also emphasized in an interview that the initiative of MPC to establish a bamboo nursery is significant especially with the continuous effort of the world to solve climate change and global warming.
“Ang bamboo is being prescribed as a planting material to address ‘yung climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation dahil sa kanyang attributes, yung characteristics ng bamboo, being a grass that absorbs pollution… itong ating event, ipinapakita natin sa buong mundo na we are aware and conscious on serious efforts to address climate change and global warming,” he said.
“If coconut is the tree of life, bamboo is the green, green grass of hope. Meron kaming ni-launch na kilusan, we call it Kilusang 5K; kawayan, kalikasan, kabuhayan, kaunlaran sa kinabukasan… katuwang ng Tayo ang Kalikasan Movement Task Force ‘yung kilusang 5K,” he added.
He also mentioned that the establishment of the bamboo nursery in MPC will provide various opportunities for the College itself and the bamboo industry.
“With our experience in the upper Marikina watershed, we hope that the Marikina Polytechnic College can develop your nursery as a nearby source of planting materials, so we have the capacity to provide training, especially with the existence of Bamboo Production and Bamboo Processing NC-II TESDA Courses and help that developed bamboo products and enterprises,” he said.
On the other hand, Dr. Ernesto R. Concepcion, Vice President for Admin and Finance encouraged the MPC Community to support the newly-established Campus Bamboo Nursery.
“Let us support ‘yung pag-establish natin ng bamboo nursery kasi ‘yan ‘yung makakatulong sa’tin… makakapag-contribute siya sa pagbawas ng global warming,” Dr. Concepcion said.
“… maliit mang gagawin, pero malaki ang magiging contribution paglipas ng panahon… kailangan nating pagtulungan bawat isa ‘yung tungkol sa pag-save ng ating mother Earth,” he added.
Furthermore, Mr. Jolymar C. Peñalosa, the Interim President of Tayo ang Kalikasan Movement-MPC Chapter, persuaded his fellow students to partake in such events that will raise awareness of various environmental problems.
“Bilang estudyante, pahalagahan natin ang sumali sa mga ganitong pagtitipon kasi nae-enlighten ‘yung mga isip natin na ‘yung mga bagay pala na nakikita natin [sa kalikasan] is hindi lang natin siya nakikita, kumbaga may makukuha tayong aral sa kanya,” he said.
A total of 75 bamboo plants were turned over by PBIDC for the campus bamboo nursery as part of the College’s celebration of its 75th founding anniversary.

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