Staff reporter
BATAC CITY—Freshly-dried and processed products of seaweeds and bamboo are the main attraction of a three-day Regional Symposium on Research and Development Highlights held at the Teatro Ilocandia of the Mariano Marcos State University, this city.
To showcase the different technologies utilizing bamboo and seaweeds, MMSU opened the exhibit to the public at the MMSU covered court on November 27, 2017 where local consumers, farmers and businessmen could probably connect to develop partnership. Some of these products include engineered bamboo products like chairs, tables, plaques, souvenir items, seaweed noodles, polvoronand bread among others.
Dr. Segundina Gaerlan, assistant regional director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said in a press conference also on Monday said the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) currently support these two commodities to showcase the latest innovations and technologies for market matching.
In Region 1, there are several of bamboo plantations developed by entrepreneurs to ensure a sustainable supply of raw materials.
Bella Gervacio of the MMSU Extension Directorate said the university continue to assist several farmer-cooperators in Ilocos Norte for the establishment of bambusetum to propagate more species of bamboo.
This year, Ilocos Norte has already established bambusetum in the municipalities of Burgos and Pasuquin and plans to expand in Badoc town next year.
While developing more bamboo plantations here, researchers has appealed to government authorities to come out with local ordinances to control harvesting of bamboo particularly its shoots.
For seaweeds, researchers are also coming out with various technologies to promote utilization of seaweeds not just for human food but also for cosmetics, fertilizer supplement and other industrial uses.