Valuation of Bamboo Along Pampanga Riverbank in San Simon

Abstract

Being partly bounded by the Pampanga River, the Barangay San Pedro in San Simon, Pampanga experiences flooding during the rainy season due to the inundation of the river and soil erosion along the riverbank. Bamboo plays a very important role in reducing the harmful effects of inclement weather in the riverside barangay. It also provides so many other ecological and economic benefits, which is why it is important to study bamboo and document the residents’ valuation of this plant. Human acts or processes that show the valuation of bamboo include awareness, acknowledgment of the worth of the plant, and interest in it. Information on the valuation of bamboo could help deeply understand and respond intelligently to the problems experienced annually in riverside communities. The study aimed to produce an action plan for the implementation of a bamboo planting program in the riverside community to address these problems. It is a mixed-methods research that applied a combination of field research, descriptive research, and phenomenological approaches. Through field study, six bamboo species found along the Pampanga Riverbank within Barangay San Pedro were mapped and identified. These species were bayog, Buddha belly, kawayan dilaw, kawayan tinik, kawayan tsina, and Taiwan bamboo. Then, a survey was conducted among 310 adults who reside near the riverbank of Barangay San Pedro and were selected through systematic sampling method. The survey shows that most of the riverside residents, although having difficulties in identifying bamboo names, were aware of its ecological niche and characteristics as well as its uses to human beings and the environment. In terms of their interest in engaging in at least five activities in learning about bamboo cultivation as well as in using bamboo as a source of livelihood, on average, the riverside residents were moderately interested. Twenty-one residents, selected through purposeful sampling method, were interviewed, and expressed a deep appreciation of bamboo. The barangay captain of San Pedro was also interviewed and revealed that bamboo projects had been initiated before and his office established an action plan for the continuity of the previous projects. But when examined, the barangay plan was found to be too broad or lacking specific details that are important in implementing the bamboo planting program. The study’s proposed action plan addressed these concerns and issues observed. In conclusion, the Barangay San Pedro is rich in bamboo diversity. The riverside residents of the barangay acknowledge and appreciate the value of their bamboo and had shown interest in it but had insufficient knowledge about its diversity. The study recommends implementation of information dissemination campaigns about bamboo, prioritizing native bamboo species such as kawayan tinik for planting, and integration of bamboo planting in the basic education curriculum and greening program in the community through multisectoral collaborations.

KEYWORDS –Bamboo, Valuation, Pampanga Riverbank, Barangay San Pedro, Municipality of San Simon