By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government will expand its bamboo planting program beyond its initial target of 100,000 trees as part of a long-term effort to improve air quality, reduce flooding and create a greener urban environment, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso announced on Wednesday.
Speaking during a city event, Moreno said the 100,000-bamboo target represents only the minimum number of trees the local government intends to plant across the capital, with additional sites already being considered.
The mayor said the initiative forms part of the city’s environmental program aimed at producing cleaner air, lowering urban temperatures and increasing the ground’s capacity to absorb rainwater during heavy downpours.
“Bamboo can contribute to a cooler environment while helping address flooding by improving water absorption,” Moreno said, explaining the multiple environmental benefits expected from the project.
The mayor also addressed public concerns over the appearance of bamboo plants along Roxas Boulevard, where several have turned brown in recent weeks.
Moreno clarified that the plants are not dead but are undergoing a natural growth cycle observed during the project’s pilot phase.
He explained that before expanding the program, the city first conducted a trial planting in front of the Bayview Park Hotel in Ermita to determine whether bamboo could thrive in Manila’s coastal environment.
According to Moreno, the bamboo initially turned brown, leading some to believe the plants had died. However, new shoots and green leaves later emerged, convincing city officials that the species could successfully adapt to local conditions.
The mayor said the positive results prompted the city government to proceed with the wider implementation of the bamboo planting initiative.
Moreno also assured residents that the city would regularly monitor and maintain the bamboo sites to ensure the plants remain healthy and protected from vandalism, illegal dumping, open burning and other activities that could damage the project.
He emphasized that sustained maintenance would be essential to preserving the environmental gains expected from the city’s growing network of bamboo plantations.
ia/xf
