Led by the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU)-American Corner, in partnership with the MMSU-Extension Directorate; MMSU-College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Department of Biological Science and Biological Circle; MMSU-College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) Forestry Department; and barangay officials of Barangay 16, Quiling Sur, City of Batac, IlocosNorte, an outreach project entitled “Controlling Stream Bank Erosion through Bamboo Planting” was conducted on September 27-28, 2016 in the said barangay.

The project aimed to: 1) raise awareness on the importance of bamboo plants; 2)let the community take ownership in protecting their environment through bamboo planting; 3) strengthen student volunteers’ ability to lead environmental protection activities; 4) help establish plants to control stream bank erosion, absorb/sequester carbons and regulate microclimate; 5) establish a source of food, income, and building materials of the concerned barangays; and 6) develop camaraderie through the implementation and realization of environment-related activities.

To attain the project’s objectives, an opening program and a lecture on the “Importance and Cultural Management of Bamboo” were conducted in the afternoon of September 27. The opening program was highlighted by the messages of Dr.Aris Reynold V. Cajigal, Director, MMSU-Extension Directorate; Mr. Xavier E. Lara and Ms. Princess Grace C. Wooden, Director and Deputy Director of the Thomas Jefferson Information Center, U.S. Embassy, Manila, respectively. Likewise, Dr. Roseller R. Ayson, faculty and Extension Coordinator, MMSU-CAFSD, served as the resource speaker of the lecture.

Participants consisted of 75 barangay officials, health workers, tanod, farmers, agricultural technologist and other barangay members as well as faculty/staff members from MMSU and visitors from the U.S. Embassy, Manila. In the morning of September 28, the actual bamboo planting was done by 107 participants. These included officials and members of the Biological Circle and faculty of the Department of Biological Science of the MMSU-CAS, barangay officials, health workers, tanod, farmers, and other barangay members, and MMSU-American Corner/University Library System and Extension Directorate staff. Mr. Xavier E. Lara, Ms. Princess Grace C. Wooden, and Dr.Roseller R. Ayson participated also in the event