China Experience

by AMBROSIO R. VILLORENTE

The Kapehan sa Aklan guests on its November 22 program were participants to the study tour in PRC with special emphasis on bamboo production and utilization. They are (l to r) Hon. Jean Rodriguez, Hon. Selwyn Ibarreta, Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo-head of delegation, Hon. Gerick Templonuevo, and Hon. Ramon Gelito.

“Once in a lifetime experience”. This is the comment of Hon. Ramon Gelito of his one week trip to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). Hon. Gelito was a member of the team headed by Vice Governor Gabrielle V. Calizo which visited PRC this November.

According to Vice Governor Calizo, their trip is more than justified. It has spent the least expenses and has enabled Aklan legislators to see what other countries like China are doing in several fields of human endeavor like tourism. “We have explored the possibility of bamboo as an industry in Aklan and got additional experience on measures on environmental protection,” stressed Calizo.

According to Calizo, they visited Anji, which is popular for its bamboo production and processing bamboo products. There, they saw bamboo plantation in thousands of hectares, processing plant for bamboos and bamboo museum. They saw several kinds of products out of bamboo in the museum exhibits such as wine, mat, fabrics like sock, towel, shirt and bags.

“Anji is four (4) hours by bus travel from Shanghai City. The Chinese highway is elevated which enable the farmers to cultivate lands under the highway and produce palay. It is also safer to travel,” Hon. Jean Rodriguez related. According to Rodriguez, she saw centuries of trees. Its ages are revealed by color coding like color code of green means 200 years old and red is 500 years old.

According to Hon. Selwyn Ibarreta, vendors do not provide free containers for goods like vegetables and fruits. A buyer who did not bring bags for goods he bought is provided with container at cost. There is no free wrapping material for goods sold.

“We experienced this when we bought fruits,” added Hon. Gelito. According to him, they are doing this in China to minimize the use of non-biodegradable materials and reduce pollution as well. It reduces market expenses and minimize the use of plastic.

“Their ricefields are provided with adequate irrigation water,” Hon. Rodriguez pointed out. According to her, their irrigation ditches are cemented, well visible from the bus passing by the highway.

Hon. Gelito related, he was so surprised upon their arrival in Beijing. “Immigration and customs in the airport were so orderly,” Gelito stressed. “There was no hassle. Our baggages were not opened”, he added.

Vice Governor Calizo vowed to assist the establishment of the bamboo industry in Aklan. The propagation and utilization of bamboo will be primarily addressed for the protection of riverbanks. It will be developed to minimize the negative effects of flooding and soil erosion. It will be designed to provide alternative livelihood for the people. /MP

Hon. Gerick Templonuevo and Vice Gov. Gabrielle V. Calizo displaying souvenirs from China all made of bamboo like wine, bags, fabrics, and mats among others.