BACOLOD CITY — The provincial government-run Bamboo Innovation Center has introduced to the market, during the 25th Panaad sa Negros Festival, a collection of uniquely-designed items using bamboo as the primary material.
Dubbed the “Asian Wood,” the collection comprises furniture, home decors and accessories, luminaries and gifts displayed at the center located inside the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan in this city.
Rafael Coscolluela, provincial consultant on investment promotions, export, and trade development, said Capitol tapped the Philippine Design Development Center, through regional designer Carlos Lanuza, for the project.
The designs were executed by the Tumandok Crafts Industries based in Negros Occidental, he added.
Lanuza, in a note posted at the showroom, said the product presentation combined the skills of traditional bamboo craftsmen on Negros Island, contemporary design ideas using modern machineries for bamboo processing, and modern technology to come up with almost customized and one-of-a-kind products made from bamboo.
“We will refer those who want to order these items to Tumandok. The prices for now may seem a bit expensive because these are one-off pieces, not mass produced. Most likely the first people who will buy these items will have exclusive and unique items,” Coscolluela said.
He added that eventually, when the designs and manufacturing process will be improved, the prices can go down.
“Our intention here is to promote the bamboo industry,” said Coscolluella, who was also former governor of Negros Occidental.
He said that when the province decided to promote its bamboo industry about three years ago, they learned that Negros Occidental was not included in the national bamboo industry development plan.
“The assumption was, people there who designed the program probably thought ‘let’s not concern ourselves with Negros Island,’ because they only have sugarcane. We were always suffering from this image that all we’re good for, is sugar,” Coscolluela shared.
He said that with enough potential bamboo supply on the island, Negros Occidental decided to develop its own bamboo industry as part of the province’s diversification program.
The Provincial Enterprise Development and Investment Center then came up with the Provincial Bamboo Industry Development Program.
Engineer Jose Maria Amugod, Provincial Project Development Officer III, said that after the Panaad Festival ends on Sunday, the Bamboo Innovation Center will be opened daily to entertain clients who want to place orders similar to the displayed items.
The bamboo center was established using funds from the 20-percent Provincial Development Fund amounting to PHP6 million and the 2015 Performance Challenge Fund given by the Department of the Interior and Local Government worth PHP4 million.
The funds were used for the construction of a showroom and marketing center; completion of the Bamboo Innovation Center; purchase of processing equipment including bamboo dryer; and promotional, information and educational component.
The Department of Science and Technology also provided PHP1 million worth of equipment such as bamboo splitter, twin rip saw, plainer and laminating press. ( Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
