1. Republic of the Philippines
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
Policies in Support to Bamboo Sector
Development
THE PHILIPPINE EXPERIENCE
Myline O. Aparente
International Workshop on the Roles of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Bamboo
Industry Development
Bamboo and Rattan Tower, 16th Floor Conference Room, INBAR, Chaoyang, Beijing, April 10, 2015

2. Outline of Presentation
Status of the
Philippine
Bamboo
Industry
Policies on
Bamboo Sector
Development
Challenges and
Opportunities
Future Plans

3. Status of the Philippine
Bamboo Industry

4. Philippine Bamboo Statistics
62 native and introduced species, only
11 species have high economic value
52,000 hectares of bamboo plantations
nationwide
40 M poles (supply) and 60 M poles
(demand) = 20 M poles supply deficit
annually
40% of bamboo raw materials are
used by the furniture and handicraft,
25% for fish pens and housing
construction, 10% for the agriculture
and 25% for other purposes

5. Government institutions, and
private sectors established
bamboo plantations for pole
production, reforestation, and
shoot production
Raw materials came from
natural stands and bamboo
plantations either from public
or private lands
Bamboo Resources
“Survey of Bamboo Stands and Establishment of a
National Database of Economically Important Bamboo
Species in the Philippines”. ERDB-DENR (2013)
Luzon
Visayas
Mindanao

6. Philippine Bamboo Industry
In 2009, Philippines is one of the top
exporters of bamboo products
worldwide with a total export value of
$30 million
Policy to promote bamboo industry
already exists
From 2012-2014, about P306.3 million
worth of investments was made,
P261.8 million sales generated and
13,103 were employed

7. Production
Components of Bamboo Industry
1
2 Processing or Manufacturing

8. Production
Components of Bamboo Industry
1Products Consumers
Poles
Planting stocks
(ornamental sp.)
Bamboo shoots
House construction sector; fish pen owners;
banana growers; makers of fishing boats;
bamboo processors (furniture and handicrafts, E-
bamboo, musical instruments, barbecues sticks,
chopsticks, etc.).
Homeowners residing in affluent subdivisions
and those engaged in landscaping work.
General public and manufacturers of bamboo
shoot products.

9. Components of Bamboo Industry
Product Consumers
Furniture
Handicrafts
E-bamboo
Homeowners, hotels, restaurants, resorts, others
are for exports .
Local and foreign tourists, hotels, restaurants and
resorts. The biggest dollar earning products of the
Philippines.
Construction industry (mostly in the form of
building materials), homeowners seeking unique
furniture and cabinets and house decors.
2 Processing or Manufacturing

10. Components of Bamboo Industry
Products Consumers
Musical instruments
Bamboo mats
Baskets, crates, other
woven containers
Processed food
Pulp and paper
Schools and special groups involved in
entertainment activities.
House construction sector.
General public, producers of vegetables and
fruits
General public, distributors of food products
Public and private offices, schools and
colleges, packaging industry, etc.
2 Processing or Manufacturing

11. Bamboo Products/Uses

12. Bamboo Products/Uses

13. Bamboo Products/Uses

14. Traditional Bamboo Industry Value Chain
PRODUCTION DEMAND
NURSERY EST.
and MGMT
FARM
MGMT
NATURAL STAND
PLANTATION
Cultivars
TRADITIONAL
PRODUCTS
Bamboo Poles
Handicrafts
and Furniture,
Furnishings
Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo Poles
HARVESTING
Farming, Fishing and
Construction
Households
FOREIGN AND
LOCAL BUYERS
NURSERY EST.
and MGMT
FARM
MGMT
NATURAL STAND
PLANTATION
Cultivars
ENGINEERED BAMBOO
Milling and ComposingPrimary Processing
TRADITIONAL
PRODUCTS
Machine, Tools Fabrication, Adhesive
Production
Bamboo Poles
Handicrafts
and Furniture,
Furnishings
Floor Boards,
Tiles, Sawali
Boards, Panels,
Furniture,
Furnishings,
Accents
Furniture Comp.
Boards, Panels
Bamboo Poles
HARVESTING
DepEd
FOREIGN AND
LOCAL BUYERS
INSTITUTIONAL
BUYERS
NHA, DPWH
OTHER MARKETS
Hardware and
Construction
Supply Stores
Designers
Furniture MakersTreated Poles,
Slats, Slivers,
Tadtad
Engineered Bamboo Value Chain
Processing MarketProductionR&D

15. Sample Engineered Bamboo Value Chain
Processing MarketProduction
NURSERY EST.
and MGMT
FARM
MGMT
NATURAL STAND
PLANTATION
Cultivars
ENGINEERED BAMBOO
Milling and ComposingPrimary Processing
TRADITIONAL
PRODUCTS
Machine, Tools Fabrication, Adhesive
Production
Bamboo Poles
Handicrafts
and Furniture,
Furnishings
Floor Boards,
Tiles, Sawali
Boards,
Panels,
Furniture,
Furnishings
, Accents
Furniture Comp.
Boards, Panels
Bamboo Poles
HARVESTING
DepEd
FOREIGN AND
LOCAL BUYERS
INSTITUTIONAL
BUYERS
NHA, DPWH
OTHER MARKETS
Hardware and
Construction Supply
Stores
Designers
Furniture MakersTreated Poles,
Slats, Slivers,
Tadtad
Primary
Processing
Raw Materials
Selection and
Harvesting
Sample Making &
Manufacturing
Machine and
Equipment
Fabrication
R&D

16. THE APPROACHES
NODES TO HUB
Nodes – facility for the primary processing of
bamboo, producing sticks or slats
Hub – final processing into various engineered
bamboo products

17. The APPROACHES
NODES to HUB
Establishment
of NODES
Establishment
of HUB

18. The APPROACHES
EXPANDING NODE TO SMALL HUB TO BIG HUB
SONZA

19. HUB in CITC
TIMPC
TIMPCo
HUB & NODE
Licuan-baay
Tayum
Peñarrubia
TINGGUIAN-ILOKO MULTI-
PURPOSE COOPERATIVE
(TIMPCo)
Dangdangla, Bangued, Abra

20. Cooperative’s Bamboo Factory
Brgy. Laang, Lagangilang, Abra
E-Bamboo Station 1 - Abra
Assembly and Finishing
E-Bamboo Production in Manila
DTI-CITC, SSS Village, Marikina City

21. NODES & HUBS IN THE COUNTRY

22. CAR - Abra
• Langangilang (Hub)
• Tayum (Node)
• San Juan (Node)
• Penarubia (Node)
• Bangued (Node)
Region I
• Bani, Pangasinan (Node)
• Mangatarem, Pangasinan (Hub)
• Alaminos, Pangasinan (Hub)
Region III
• San Luis, Aurora (Start-up Hub)
• Maria Aurora, Aurora (Node)
• Llanera, Nueva Ecija (Node)
•Lubao, Pampanga (Hub)
•Dona Remedios, Bulacan (Node)
Region IV-A
• Talim Island, Cardona, Rizal (Node) c/o DTI
• Cardona Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Cardona, Rizal
(Start-up) /co DOLE
• Tui, Batangas (Node)
Region V
Pawili, Camarines Sur (Hub)
Region VI
Dumalag, Capiz (Start-up)
Miag-ao, Iloilo (Hub)
Sibalom, Antique (Node)
Region XI
Ramon Magsaysay, Zamboanga del Sur (Start-up)
Region XII
ProDev Koronadal City, SoCot (Node)
Sta. Maria, SoCot (Node)
CARAGA
Butuan, Agusan del Sur (Node)
Nodes and Hubs
LEGEND: Node Hub

23. Policies to support
bamboo sector industry
The Philippine Experience

24. Executive Order 879
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

25. Reforestation of at least
50,000 hectares from 2010
to 2020
DENR to use bamboo for at
least 20% of its annual
reforestation projects (e.g.
National Greening Program)
25% of annual desk
requirements of DepEd shall be
made of bamboo
What constitute EO 879?

26. Support programs to strengthen the industry
Provision of shared service facilities
Training
Techno transfer
Access to raw materials
Bamboo expo
Marketing assistance
Research and development on bamboo
Loan Assistance for bamboo development projects

27. Shared Service Facility
• Component of the DTI’s industry cluster
development approach employed to micro, small
and medium enterprise
• Aims to raise production output, power cost, and
improve the level of product quality that could make
operation more efficient and consequently
becoming competitive
• Requires facilities, equipment and tools that are
being shared by members of the cooperators

28. SME related policies that could support bamboo industry
Government’s participation on free trade agreements (FTAs)
- pave the way for country’s deeper trade and investment
integration in the global economy
Magna Carta for MSMEs (RA 9501)
- Mandatory allocation of at least 8% of credit resources’ total
loan portfolio to MSMEs
Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (RA 9178) Act
- Provides support to microenterprise and the informal sector
through incentives to local government registered MEs, tax
exemptions/reductions in local taxes, financial support and
technological assistance from government institutions

29. SME related policies that could support bamboo industry
2011-2016 MSME Development Plan
- Addresses critical constraints to the growth and development
of MSME sector
Universal Access to Competitiveness and Trade (U-Act)
- Prepares FTA primers and conducts industry studies along with
policy papers and impact on competitiveness

30. Challenges and
Opportunities

31. Opportunities
Available tract of lands for bamboo plantations
Availability of scientific experts doing research
on bamboo and industrial engineers who can
develop bamboo processing technologies
Bamboo already established its commercial
value as substitute for wood, plastic and metal
Support from government and private sectors
are in place
Increasing demand for bamboo furniture,
handicraft, construction materials and other
finished products using 100% e-bamboo
Contributes to climate change mitigation and
reduce impact of natural disaster
Opportunities

32. Challenges Lack of high tech facilities/
machineries in processing
Lack of supply of bamboo poles as
raw materials for finished products
Lack of coordinated action in ensuring
a steady supply of bamboo poles
Lack of market information
Substandard quality of products due to:
- Low quality of raw materials
- Lack of appropriate machinery
- Lack of highly skilled technicians
- Poor product designs

33. 4 Future Plans

34. » Continue R and D on bamboo production and utilization
» Establishment of bamboo plantations by the government and private
sectors
» Continue provision of shared service facilities
» Maintenance of bamboo nodes and hubs
» Conduct of SME Roving Academy
» Bamboo Showcases (different events, venues) and Philippine International
Furniture Show
» Marketing and Promotion and Bamboo advocacy thru mass media
» Financing Facilitation
Plans to support bamboo industry in the Philippines
 To keep the country's status as one of the world's top bamboo
producers, Senator Paulo Benigno Aquino has filed Senate
Resolution No. 1203 seeking to conduct an inquiry on the status
of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap.

35. Claudio, Cora. Support the Private Partnership on Climate Change, Disaster Preparedness and
Sustainability – PPP with a Difference.
Cruz, Merly M. Philippine Bamboo Roadmap Workshop, May 15-16, 2012, Clark, Pampanga,
Philippines.
Lantican, Celso B. 2012. Directions for Bamboo Development in the Philippines– an NGO View
Philippine Bamboo Foundation, 2014.
Lanting M.V. Jr, et.al. 2013. Survey of Bamboo Stands and Establishment of a National Database
of Economically Important Bamboo Species in the Philippines. ERDB-DENR, Los Baños,
Laguna, Philippines.
Razal, Ramon A. and M.C. 2013. Guerrero, Scoping Study on Cutting Edge Technology and
Strategies Knowledge on NTFPs for the Green Economy
PBIDC-DTI, Bamboo Industry Plans and Programs for 2015
Virtucio, F. and C. Roxas. 2004. Bamboo Production in the Philippines. ERDB-DENR, Los Baños,
Laguna, Philippines.
http://www.mb.com.ph/information-bright-prospect-for-bamboo-
industry/#heYDCTL3fHsIT1RI.99
http://www.mb.com.ph/engineered-bamboo-houses-answer-to-sendong-
wreck/#5MLGxFODsVcLY3HW.99
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/276454/economy/agricultureandmining/dti-to-
farmers-grow-more-bamboo-to-meet-rising-demand-of-10-b-global-market
https://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2015/0227_aquino1.asp
References

36. "While the bamboo is planted to protect our environment, we also
need to realize its economic potential as communities will have
livelihood and job opportunities because of the growing demand,"
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino