By Kenneth Marcos 
Under the morning sun at Kartilya ng Katipunan, the Manila City Hall grounds came alive with a small but meaningful step toward a greener city. On January 26, 2026, the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) turned over 350 bamboo seedlings to the Manila City government during the flag-raising ceremony.
BPI Director Dr. Gerald Glenn F. Panganiban led the turnover together with DA-BPI staff, handing the bamboo seedlings to Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and his team. In his message, Mayor Isko expressed gratitude to the DA-BPI, highlighting the agency’s key role in the initiative and emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration for a cleaner, greener, and more livable Manila.
The mayor also recalled his recent visit to Singapore with a BPI delegation, where he learned about urban greenery and food security programs. He noted that lessons from Singapore could help Manila develop more sustainable urban solutions, especially in securing food resources for future generations in a highly urbanized environment.
Mayor Isko stressed that while planting bamboo will not directly solve flooding problems, it can improve air quality and help with water flow along city streets. He added that flood control remains the primary method for managing heavy rains but praised the DA-BPI for supporting Manila’s environmental initiatives.
Through this partnership, the DA-BPI aims to strengthen collaboration with local governments like Manila’s to promote sustainable urban development and enhance food security initiatives. The bamboo planting is part of a wider effort to integrate green spaces in urban areas, benefiting both the environment and the well-being of city residents.
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