MANILA, Philippines – A group aims to rehabilitate the Marikina River by planting giant bamboo along the banks. Their fundraising project has gone viral, with many netizens also promising to volunteer in helping plant the giant bamboo when the seedlings/shoots arrive.
According to Fr. Benigno P. Beltran of ‘Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig’, the performing arts group from Smokey Mountain, they were given 600 hectares in the Marikina Watershed to reforest with bamboo. They decided to use the Philippine Giant Bamboo, a species endemic to the country.
The group has been designated as Ambassadors for Peace and Environment by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Part of their advocacy is to plant giant bamboo to help save the river and its watershed.
It can be recalled that the late Gina Lopez advocated for the rehabilitation of the watershed after seeing it badly denuded during an inspection back in 2017. She warned that massive flooding could happen in Marikina, Quezon City, Antipolo, Pasig, Cainta, San Mateo, and nearby areas. She added that the watershed is their “first line of defense”.
READ: Gina Lopez warned that denuded watersheds will cause massive floods
According to Fr. Benigno P. Beltran of ‘Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig’, the performing arts group from Smokey Mountain, they were given 600 hectares in the Marikina Watershed to reforest with bamboo. They decided to use the Philippine Giant Bamboo, a species endemic to the country.
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| Photo credit: Fr. Benigno P. Beltran / Facebook |
The group has been designated as Ambassadors for Peace and Environment by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines. Part of their advocacy is to plant giant bamboo to help save the river and its watershed.
It can be recalled that the late Gina Lopez advocated for the rehabilitation of the watershed after seeing it badly denuded during an inspection back in 2017. She warned that massive flooding could happen in Marikina, Quezon City, Antipolo, Pasig, Cainta, San Mateo, and nearby areas. She added that the watershed is their “first line of defense”.
READ: Gina Lopez warned that denuded watersheds will cause massive floods
Because people didn’t listen, Ondoy-like floods were once again experienced just a few weeks ago due to Typhoon ‘Ulysses’.
In hopes that such a calamity won’t happen again, ‘Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig’ plans to work hard and rehabilitate the watershed.
“Dendrocalamus Asper - we will plant the Philippine Giant Bamboo along the river banks of the Marikina River and its tributaries along the Marikina Watershed. We already ordered seedlings from Bukidnon. Take a look at the shoot I am holding! In ideal conditions, its poles can reach up to 14 inches at the base. Help us purchase more cuttings of the giant bamboo, pretty please?” the priest requested as he shared photos taken with the giant plant species.
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
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| Photo credit: Fr. Benigno P. Beltran / Facebook |
In hopes that such a calamity won’t happen again, ‘Mga Anak ni Inang Daigdig’ plans to work hard and rehabilitate the watershed.
“Dendrocalamus Asper - we will plant the Philippine Giant Bamboo along the river banks of the Marikina River and its tributaries along the Marikina Watershed. We already ordered seedlings from Bukidnon. Take a look at the shoot I am holding! In ideal conditions, its poles can reach up to 14 inches at the base. Help us purchase more cuttings of the giant bamboo, pretty please?” the priest requested as he shared photos taken with the giant plant species.
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| Photo credit: Fr. Benigno P. Beltran / Facebook |
— Joy Adalia, The Summit Express
