TARLAC CITY — To promote and support the local bamboo industry of Tarlac, the Tarlac Provincial Bamboo Industry Development Council (TPBIDC) announced plans to establish a bamboo yarn innovation center in the province.
TPBIDC Chairperson and Tarlac Governor Christian Yap saw the province’s bamboo industry as an instrument for the sustainability of the province.
”There’s a big opportunity to grow the bamboo industry here in the province of Tarlac, not only as an economic driver, but also as a solution to help mitigate climate change,” Yap said.
Provincial Environment Consultant Max Guillermo stated that Tarlac is among the top producers of bamboo in the Philippines.
With the growing bamboo industry in the province, Yap expressed support for the modernization of the industry not only for Philippine demand but for world class demand.
As part of the modernization efforts, Department of Science and Technology Provincial Director Karen Dañez announced that a bamboo yarn innovation center is being planned.
“Tinitignan nating ma-establish ito sa Tarlac Agricultural University wherein we can use kawayan as yarn. Pwede siyang maging textile, fabric at makatulong na rin sa garment industry (We are planning to establish it at Tarlac Agricultural University wherein we can use bamboo as yarn. It can be made into textile, fabric, and it can help the garment industry as well),” she said.
Dañez also mentioned that the Philippine Textile Research Institute recently visited Tarlac to help strengthen the bamboo industry, which led to the formation of a plan to establish a weaving center.
She added that the bamboo was planned to be integrated into the weaving center, thus forming the plan for the bamboo yarn innovation center.
Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), which managed one of the largest bamboo plantations in the province, expressed its full support for TPBIDC’s initiatives.
TAU President Silverio Ramon Salunson said the university was planning to establish a bamboo training center where the community would be trained in proper use of bamboo, including the process from propagation to harvesting.
Other public and private sectors such as the Department of Trade and Industry, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, the United Architects of the Philippines Tarlac Chapter, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, all pledged support for Tarlac’s bamboo industry, offering their services to further strengthen its development.
