ROBA ARC counters Climate Change hazards with Bamboo Plantation

      The municipality of Enrile in Cagayan province is on the frequent path of typhoons. It is often visited by other disasters such as flood, man-made and other natural calamities. According to the climate projection of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), unfavourable changes in climate conditions will be expected in 2006-2035 for the southern part of Cagayan where Enrile is located. Such changes may have direct or indirect effect on the farming activities of the ROBA Agrarian Reform Community (ROBA ARC) farmers. Temperature in the area is projected to increase at an average of 0.9 degree Celsius in 2006-2035 (2020). Temperature will be highest in months of June-August. PAGASA also projects significant increase in rainfall by 16.3% in months of September-November when the season of corn planting starts, which is an alarming increase in all aspects of climate events. ROBA ARC is also threatened by the projected tripling in the number of days with rainfall above 200 mm. Heavy rainfall is identified as the primary cause of soil erosion in the area. Eroded farms may eventually result to loss of livelihood of the farmers.

Enrile town in Cagayan province is easily flooded during typhoon season and wrecks havoc on farms along Cagayan River. Photo: LGU-Cagayan

     Roma Sur Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Roma Sur MPC) is the lead agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organization (ARBO) within the ROBA ARC located in the municipality of Enrile, Cagayan which embraces barangays Roma Sur, Roma Norte and Batu (with Liwan Norte and San Antonio as expansion barangays).  

     To counter the devastating effects of climate change in their community, members of Roma Sur MPC was able to access a total of P716,230 (P650,000 from DAR; P20,000 from LGU and P40,230 as its counterpart) for funding a project entitled: The Promotion of Climate Change Adaptive Measures to Counter Adverse Effects in ROBA ARC (Planting of Bamboo Along Contours and Riverbanks with Climate Change Adaptation Capability Training). The project was duly approved under DAR’s Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support (CRFPS) services.

Roma Sur MPC in ROBA ARC was able to acquire funds from DAR-CRFPS for a Bamboo Plantation project. (Photo by: Lau Miguel)

     The project provides environmental protection through the planting of bamboo along the contours and riverbanks which primarily addresses the concern on the rapid erosion and disappearance of farmlands near the Cagayan River.  This component is being pursued in close partnership with the LGU and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It also involves the establishment of a five thousand square-meter Bamboo Nursery for the propagation of propagules locally known as Kawayan Tinik and Bayog after which they are planted into a five-hectare plantation both managed by the ARBO. The five-hectare bamboo plantation will be the source for the of the member’s income generating project.  

Bamboo seedlings for the Nursery. (Photo by: Lau Miguel) 

      The remaining propagules will be sold at reasonable price so as to generate income and portion of the money raised will be used again for the next cycle of the bamboo propagule-growing to cater to the additional demands on bamboo seedlings. This is a cost recovery and an income generating project. Net proceeds will be capitalized on the next batch of bamboo production making the project self-liquidating and sustainable.

      The bamboo harvested from the project will become a sustainable source of raw materials for the bamboo craft industry of the ARB organization and for other bamboo requirements of third parties such as construction scaffolding, bahay-kubo builders, bamboo furniture, etc. As part of their community involvement and contribution to the overall development goal of the Municipality, the cooperative will provide a portion of seedlings to the LGU as their counterpart to the Greening Program of the municipality.

    The member of the ARBO were also provided with capability training on Climate Change Adaptation and Bamboo Farming. Climate change is a phenomenon that needs to be fully understood by everyone.  The series of events that led to drastic changes in weather patterns, which now threatens the lives, livelihood and practically the very existence of this civilization, is not singlehandedly accounted to an act, a group or an individual for that matter. 

      Climate change is an effect of the collaborative actions, and sometimes inaction, of a generation so much bent on consumerism – the resultant culture of industrialization.  To counter its impact and reverse its consequences, whenever possible, its origins, nature, effects and countermeasures were studied and explained.

    Incorporating further in the capability building were skills training on bamboo farming to strengthen the capacity of ARBs to handle and manage the project effectively. The farmers, their organizations, households and their entire community were encouraged to learn adaptive measures and put into practice eco-friendly technologies in their day-to-day activities.
     Machineries and equipment were provided as part of the mechanization aspect for easier and timely production and postharvest operations.  It reduces drudgery of field work and lowers production costs. These machineries and equipment would be very essential in the production activities of the project i.e. hauling of seedlings from nursery to plantation, plantation site (harvested bamboo poles) to production and manufacturing center of furniture and handicrafts (ARBO’s existing enterprise), it will also function as service vehicle of the ARBO for the delivery of pre-ordered furniture and seedlings trading.  Aside from these inevitable uses, said machineries can also be utilize in other farm activities of farmer-members. Suggested machineries can be an income generating equipment itself through custom hiring. The ARBO could maximize the utilization of the equipment and have an extra earnings since custom hiring is a growing industry now a days because of the emerging trend in farm mechanization. 

Farm machineries for the Bamboo Plantation project were also provided. 

     The Roma Sur MPC has long acknowledged the potential of bamboo furniture as an income source.  For several years, members of this cooperative in ROBA ARC have augmented their farm income from the sale of sala sets, chairs, tables, beds and lampshades made of bamboo.  However, the production of good quality furniture is hampered by the lack of technology and the insufficient supply of bamboo to the ARC. Bamboo farming and bamboo processing are well suited to the twin concerns of livelihood enhancement and environmental protection – the key components for developing third world countries today. The production of these products can be organized and formed as industries that provide material benefits and livelihood development to the people.

     Climate impacts do not affect all communities equally. The region's most vulnerable areas, including low-income communities, often bear a disproportionate burden of climate impacts. Geography also determines a community's exposure to climate effects. For instance, communities have greater exposure to flooding based on their underlying natural landscapes, infrastructure capacities, and impervious surface coverage. To successfully build climate resilience, the region must address the complex intersections of these built, natural, and social systems.

      The municipality of Enrile in Cagayan province is one of the most vulnerable areas, being located among the low-income communities. It often endures a disproportionate burden of climate impacts. It has a greater exposure to flooding due to typhoons and heavy rains which always challenges its move towards attaining a sustainable agro-industrial growth. To successfully build climate resilience, the community must address the compound intersections of natural and social systems affecting its existence. One of these measures is the Bamboo plantation in the ROBA Agrarian Reform Community. /with Marvi Trinidad-Bulan