The Department of Science and Technology – Provincial S&T Office of Cavite (DOST-Cavite) joins the technical working group (TWG) for bamboo industry development in Laguna during benchmarking activity in the province of Pampanga on March 3-4, 2025.
The two-day activity was hosted by the DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI), which aims to gather information on existing programs, projects, and activities (PPAs) in the bamboo industry for possible adoption and interventions in respective areas of TWG members. The TWG consists of various national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), and academic institutions.
During the first day of benchmarking, the team visited the Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (PFIF) in Brgy. Paraluyan, Mabalacat City, Pampanga and Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) in Brgy. San Agustin, Magalang, Pampanga. They toured the Bamboo and Rattan Research, Development, and Extension (RDE) Center, the shared service facility (SSF) of DTI Pampanga for bamboo, and PSAU’s bamboo nursery and plantation (bambusetum).
In addition, on the second day, the team visited the LUBAO Bamboo HUB and Eco-Park” in Lubao, Pampanga, to witness the bamboo production and processing in the area. (By Aaron Joniel S. Carandang)