LILA Mayor Atty. Jed Piollo warns of war on water that may be inevitable if deforestation and deleterious human activity continue.
“The next war would be about water not territory for water is for survival for humanity,” Mayor Pollo told media interview.
Lila is the host for this year’s celebration of World Bamboo Day, along with the province of Bohol in a tree-planting activity with thousands of bamboo seedlings of various varieties were planted in Barangays Jambawan, Cogon and Calvario, Sept. 28, 2024.
He said the hosting of Lila town “is our commitment and our advocacy that must be continued,” as the town is strongly supporting the regenerative drive.
The town, he said, has already started generating seedlings not by cuttings but thru growing of bamboo seeds. And growing bamboo is the cheapest, most effective and efficient of regenerating water sources. And it is healing, he added.
Experts said bamboo is an effective erosion control plant and a natural control barrier due to its widespread root system.
It reduces runoff, prevents massive soil erosion and minimizes CO2 gases.
Mayor Piollo II expressed optimism about the project’s potential to restore both forest cover and water resources.
“We nursed five different bamboo varieties from seeds until they were strong enough to plant,” Piollo shared, explaining how these barangays, once abundant in natural springs, had seen their water sources depleted due to deforestation and human activities.
He said by reintroducing bamboo, the municipality hopes to regenerate these lost water streams and revive the forest landscape.
The bamboo planting initiative builds upon the foundation laid last year when the Bohol Bamboo Industry Development Council (BBIDC) institutionalized the annual celebration of World Bamboo Day in Bohol.
The inaugural event took place in Garcia Hernandez, hosted by Mayor Jess Baja, who also participated in this year’s event as one of the volunteers.
Baja, who chairs the BBIDC, has been a driving force behind promoting bamboo as a key element of environmental sustainability in the province.
World Bamboo Day is marked as a day of celebration to raise global awareness about bamboo and its use which is observed on September 18. (rvo with PIMO)
