MINDANAO: More than 4,000 participants took part in the “Kawayanihan” initiative on Friday, planting at least 20,000 bamboo seedlings across Mindanao and parts of Leyte province in the Visayas. The large-scale event is an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the most people planting bamboo simultaneously.
According to Philippines News Agency, Belle Calotes, the information focal person for the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 10 (Northern Mindanao), confirmed that representatives from Guinness World Records (GWR) would verify the number of participants to determine if the event qualifies for the record. “The GWR attempt focuses on the number of planters, which they are verifying,” she stated.
The DOST spearheaded this collaborative effort involving various stakeholders to underline its commitment to fostering a sustainable, climate-resilient, circular economy. DOST-10 Director Romela Ratilla emphasized that the initiative is part of the department’s Science, Technology, and Innovation for C
ircular Economy (STI4CE) program. “The Kawayanihan Movement is not the end but the beginning of harnessing bamboo’s potential to generate wealth, create jobs, and promote green and sustainable practices,” Ratilla remarked.
Additionally, each bamboo seedling planted during the event will be recorded in the Bamboo Resource Inventory System (BRIS). This system, developed by researchers at the Bamboo Niche Research and Development Center at Central Mindanao University in Bukidnon, will monitor the growth of each plant in real time. It aims to provide crucial data on bamboo resources for informed decision-making, including supply forecasting.
Looking ahead, DOST plans to work closely with stakeholders to develop coordinated local bamboo industry plans aligned with the Philippine Bamboo Industry Roadmap. These strategies will focus on data-driven approaches to pre-processing, enhancing value, developing infrastructure, and providing logistical and marketing support to advance the bamboo industry.