by Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol
Chairman, Mindanao Development Authority

The finest products made out of Bamboo will be showcased in a week-long 1st Mindanao Bamboo Expo scheduled Sept. 15 to 19 in the Robinson's Place Mall in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Individual farmers, craftsmen, artisans, commercial groups and Local Government Units are expected to participate in the first ever Virtual-Actual Hybrid Expo which would display the commercial products made out of Bamboo.

The 1st Mindanao Bamboo Expo is a project of the newly-organized Mindanao Bamboo Industry Development Council which supported by the Mindanao Development Authority and other agencies of government, including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

MBIDC Chairman Rod Bioco said the 1st Mindanao Bamboo Expo will be headed by Bob Tinsay, chairman of the Bukidnon Giant Bamboo Resources Corp. based in Malaybalay City.

Products like furniture, treated and laminated bamboo blocks and panels, huts, bamboo house and cutlery and kitchen tools will be displayed during the expo.

Planting materials of Giant Bamboo and other bamboo varieties will also be displayed and sold during the Expo.

Those who could not physically come to the Expo site, MinDA and MBIDC has established a digital platform which would allow virtual visits from booth to booth.

The Virtual Visitors could also engage the Expo Exhibitors in a business matching, an innovation which would allow even those living in Europe and the U.S. to be able to check out items which they like.

Lectures on Bamboo farming, processing and even financing will also be conducted in actual and virtual sessions.

Those interested to join the 1st Mindanao Bamboo Expo are advised to coordinate with the Mindanao Development Authority through its Facebook page.