Kilambay Plantation Corporation (KPC), a leading agricultural startup based in Mindanao, has recently taken part in a historic environmental initiative, joining the KAWAYANIHAN: A Circular Economy Movement.
The event, held last October 18, 2024, aimed to set a Guinness World Record for the “Most People Planting Bamboo Simultaneously Across Multiple Venues.” It saw over 5,000 volunteers and participants planting and geotagging bamboo across 20 locations in Mindanao.
Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region XII, Kilambay Plantation’s effort brought together thousands of volunteers and institutions, all contributing to this ambitious and environmentally impactful event.
The event was attended by prominent figures from both the public and private sectors, including DOST Undersecretary for Special Concerns Teodoro Gatchalian, DOST Region XII Director Engr. Sammy Malawan, Representative Ma. Alana Samantha T. Santos, and Carmen Mayor Rogelio Taliño. Former Agriculture Secretary and KPC partner Luis Ramon P. Lorenzo and KPC CEO Jerry John Taray were also present, underscoring the Kilambay Plantation Corporation’s vital role in this historic endeavour.
Kilambay Plantation: Bamboo planting for a sustainable future
Kilambay Plantation Corp. (KPC), known for being the largest bamboo plantation in the region, played a key role in the record-breaking attempt.
According to the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Rochella “Ella” Taliño-Taray, Kilambay Plantation Corp.’s involvement reflects its commitment to sustainability and local community development. “This is more than setting a record — it is a unified statement of hope for future generations,” stated Taliño-Taray.
The company’s participation highlights its growing giant bamboo project, which has already employed over 400 indigenous staff and field workers from the community of Carmen.
Beyond providing immediate employment, KPC is laying the groundwork for long-term local job creation, with plans to establish a bamboo processing plant in Carmen. This facility, which is expected to help boost the local economy, will process bamboo into valuable raw materials, aligning with the growing global demand for sustainable resources.
Taliño-Taray also emphasized the importance of initiatives like KAWAYANIHAN in addressing the increasing demand for bamboo products. Her company’s actions also prove that “sustainability is achievable even for businesses with limited resources.”
Bamboo, often referred to as “green gold,” is a versatile and eco-friendly resource with enormous potential in various industries, including construction, furniture making, and textiles. Moreover, bamboo cultivation is a significant step toward climate change mitigation due to its rapid growth rate and capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.
Collaborative effort for a greener Mindanao
The event in Carmen was one of 20 simultaneous planting activities that took place across Mindanao and parts of Visayas. In Carmen alone, hundreds of planters gathered at Poblacion, Carmen, to plant and geotag bamboo seedlings, demonstrating their support for the initiative.
Aerial footage of the event captured the scale of the effort, showcasing lines of volunteers working together to plant bamboo in strategic locations.
In addition to KPC’s leadership, the event received substantial backing from local government bodies. The Provincial Government of Cotabato, under Governor Lala Taliño-Mendoza and her Serbisyong Totoo Program, co-sponsored the event alongside the Municipal Government of Carmen.
Kilambay Plantation Corporation’s deep involvement was driven by its capacity to supply bamboo seedlings in bulk, a key factor that positioned it as a top partner for the DOST Region XII in Carmen.
Other locations participating in the attempt included Brgy. San Isidro in Talakag, Brgys. Alae, Dalirig, and Maluko in Manolo Fortich, Kapalong in Davao del Norte, and Leyte in Eastern Visayas, among many others.
Across these sites, more than 5,000 volunteers joined hands in planting bamboo, all contributing to a movement that extends far beyond the act of planting — it’s about building a future around the concept of a circular economy.
Building a circular economy through bamboo
KAWAYANIHAN isn’t just about setting records; it represents a deeper goal of promoting bamboo cultivation as a pillar of the circular economy.
By encouraging the planting of bamboo, the movement aims to meet the increasing demand for bamboo raw materials, support job creation, and raise awareness of bamboo’s potential to combat climate change.
Moreover, the initiative underscores the importance of public-private sector collaboration in driving forward sustainable policies and practices for industries like bamboo.
The impact of the event will be fully realized when the official Guinness World Record result is announced on November 28, 2024, at the Limetkai Center, Cagayan de Oro City, as part of the 2024 National Science, Technology, and Innovation Week celebrations.
Whether or not the record is officially broken, the large-scale bamboo planting initiative has already succeeded in raising awareness of bamboo’s pivotal role in the future of sustainable development.
With Kilambay Plantation Corporation at the forefront of such impactful environmental efforts, the future of Mindanao’s bamboo industry — and its broader economic and ecological contributions — looks promising.
