By Danny O. Calleja
"Bayong" (reed basket) took center stage during the recently concluded Market Week Philippines (MWP) held at the MegaTrade Halls of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong from Sept. 19 to 23.
At the recently concluded Market Week Philippines (MWP) with the theme "Bayong Special Setting," Bicol’s bayong was a trailblazer. All the regions engaged in bayong-making showcased three of their best bayong designs.
DTI regional director Jocelyn Blanco said the exhibit illustrated how "bayong" has evolved from traditional market commodity to become a high-end users accessory.
“From bayong for marketing and schooling, it has also captured the liking of fashionists,†she said adding that “with the product developments, new markets, both domestic and international, are also reached,†Blanco noted.
According to Blanco, DTI conceptualized the BDP with two-fold benefits, to boost the economy and to help diminish ecological imbalance.
"It also conveys the green advocacy by making a shift from the use of the now getting unpopular non-biodegradable plastic materials to the use of eco-friendly indigenous raw materials like abaca, buri, karagumoy, bacbac, anahaw, sabutan, nito, rattan and romblon. Materials that abound in the countryside," she explained.
In a related development, the “bayong†industry in Bicol is regaining its glory which was lost when plastic and other environmentally-harmful packaging materials reigned.
Bayong has reclaimed its popularity in Albay following the provincial government's implementation of an ordinance banning the use of plastic bags and environmentally-offensive wrapping materials,
The ban which took effect last June pushed a dramatic shift by shoppers to the traditional bayong that are locally crafted mostly from buri, anahaw, abaca, karagumoy and rattan.
The shift was very impressive. It is a good development as we are doing all we can to make Albay an environmental champion, “acknowledged by Albay Gov. Joey Salceda
“Suddenly, our bayong and other native bags became in demand. It has been selling fast and more and more people are getting hooked on it,†the governor said.
The beauty of this plastic ban it that apart from its positive effects to the environment, it also provided additional income to bayong weavers.
“BDP is indeed contributing significantly to the local economy aside from its role in protecting and preserving the environment,†Blanco said.
The DTI started the program in Bicol in 2010 by featuring bayong as among Bicol’s best products in its “Orgullo Kan (OK) Bikol†trade fairs that are done yearly in Manila to promote the regions tourism and handicraft industries.
With bayong on special settings at the frontline, last year’s OK Bikol trade fair, according to Blanco generated sales of P10 million.
Blanco said through the BDP, DTI is helping the industry come up with more designs and settings while exploring the existing market to find out what it wants.
The agency also holds planning workshops to come up with a practical plan for industry advancement primarily initiated to evaluate the status of this centuries-old industry vis-a-vis issues and concerns on the different aspects of its development such as production, marketing, organizational management and finance.
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