Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session P3:56 SENATE Senate Bill No. _ Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE The bamboo industry is one of the biggest areas of agricultural potential in the Philippines, with somewhere between 39,000 to 53,000 hectares of bamboo stands and 62 bamboo species flourishing across the country. According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Forest Management Bureau, the Philippines was able to produce 1.8 million bamboo poles and export 2,000 kilograms of the same in 2023. Still, the local bamboo industry lags behind the bamboo industries of neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia. Despite the bamboo's importance and potential, statistics on its resources, production, and trade in the Philippines remain scarce and inconsistent. The lack of reliable and comprehensive data on Philippine bamboo resources and utilization hinders its sustainable development, and limits bamboo's potential to contribute to the Philippine economy. There is a great demand for bamboo in the local and international markets, especially in architecture and design, in the chemical and medical industries, and in the culinary industry. The growth of the local bamboo industry will mark a huge win for the nation- economically, culturally, and even environmentally. To take advantage of this demand, there is a need to remedy the issues plaguing the local bamboo industry today. To this end, this bill seeks to strengthen the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council and to create the Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center as a one- stop shop for all bamboo industry-related activities such as training and education, marketing and promotion, and research and development. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -9 P3:56 SENATE Senate Bill No. 294 Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Bamboo Industry

2 Development Act of 2022."

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy, The State shall provide for a self-reliant and

scientific and 4 independent economy to its people. It shall support indigenous, 5 technological capabilities, and skills. It shall establish a program to conserve, propagate 6 and promote bamboo to be used as medium for furniture, food, construction materials 7 and other uses. It shall promote the bamboo industry for poverty reduction, inclusive 8 growth, environmental conservation and protection, agricultural productivity 9 enhancement, climate change mitigation, and adaptation.

Sec. 3. Objectives of this Act. This Act aims to make the Philippine bamboo

industry competitive in the local and global markets while providing opportunities for local employment and establishing bamboo-based community enterprises by: a) Ensuring that the bamboo industry has sufficient supply of quality raw materials through the establishment of nurseries and bamboo plantations; b) Ensuring that the bamboo industry continuously receives from the research and development sector relevant technologies and new products; c) Ensuring that the industry receives pertinent and accurate data from the center created under Section 8 of this Act, and other relevant sources upon which the industry can make business decisions; d) Promoting investments in the bamboo industry by providing substantial incentives to investors;

e) Providing skilled labor and manpower through continuous relevant capacity building; f) Ensuring provision of locally manufactured machines of improved capacity, efficiency, and quality at competitive costs; 9) Providing access to markets of bamboo products locally and globally through aggressive trade promotions; h) Ensuring sustainable resources in the implementation of the bamboo industry development program; AND i) Ensuring continuing and new material and design research and development to advance market access for Philippine bamboo and bamboo products locally and internationally.

Sec. 4. The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap. To be

able to attain the policy and objectives set forth in this Act, there shall be established a Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap which shall include but not be limited to programs and projects for the scientific propagation, processing, utilization, business development, and commercialization of Philippine bamboo and bamboo products. The Plan shall include the following objectives, among others: a) Expand the number of bamboo nurseries with quality and disease-free planting materials; b) Ensure propagation, breeding, site species matching, and plant nutrition; c) Observe sustainable planting, harvesting, and soil and water conservation practices; d) Encourage backyard bamboo farming; e) Ensure the sustainability and viability of the bamboo industry; f) Promote investments in the bamboo development programs; g) Advance market access for Philippine bamboo and bamboo products locally and internationally; h) Extend assistance, both technical and financial, for the development, processing, commercialization, and marketing of various bamboo products; Require at least twenty percent (20%) of the annual planting materials needed in national greening program or reforestation in open, denuded, and degraded forest bamboo; j) Use bamboo in the manufacture of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of furniture, as an alternative to wood, in public primary and secondary schools in the country;

k) Make available to the bamboo industry relevant and current research and technological information and new product lines; 1) Provide continuous training and capacity building to businesses processing bamboo into various products; and m) Provide preferential treatment to locally manufactured machines and equipment.

Sec 5. Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council. There is hereby

created a Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC, herein referred to as the Council, which shall provide the overall policy and program directions and coordinate the activities of various agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the accomplishment, implementation, and enhancement of the Roadmap. The Council shall be administratively attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. The Council shall have the

following powers and functions: a) Formulate the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap; b) Identify specific programs and projects in support of and in line with the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap; c) Promote and encourage the establishment of nurseries, bamboo plantations, and processing facilities that would accelerate the production and commercialization of bamboo and various bamboo products; d) Identify sources of financing to expand bamboo industry development; e) Monitor and evaluate the performance of bamboo industry development programs and projects; f) Coordinate government agencies to implement bamboo industry development programs and projects; g) Coordinate with the private sector, people's organizations and non-government organizations, and the academe to provide assistance on matters pertaining to bamboo industry development; h) Promote the commercialization and market access of appropriate, innovative, and viable bamboo industry development technologies and products; i) Accept grants, donations, and contributions from local and international donors and such similar sources for the implementation of this Act, subject to the usual budget, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations. j) Submit annual reports to the Office of the President, the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and the House of Representatives

Committee on Trade and Industry on the status of bamboo industry development in the country; and Promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes and objectives of this Act.

Sec. 7. Composition. The Council shall be composed of the following:

a) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the Chairperson; b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); c) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA); d) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); e) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and f) Two (2) representatives from the bamboo sector. The DTI Secretary may designate the Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) as his/her alternate and shall have the same powers as his/her principal and his/her acts shall be considered the acts of his/her principal. The Council members from the different departments may designate their respective alternates who shall be at least Assistant Secretary in rank and whose designation shall be on a permanent capacity and their acts shall be considered the acts of their principals. The Council shall meet quarterly and may hold special meetings whenever the need arises to consider urgent matters upon the call of the Chairman or any four (4) Council members.

Sec 8. Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center. The Bamboo

Industry Research and Development Center, hereinafter referred to as the Center, shall be created to serve as the secretariat of the Council, headed by an Executive Director. The Executive Director, in addition to his/her duties in the Center, shall have the following powers and functions: a) Assist the Council in the performance of its tasks; b) Provide technical and administrative support to the Council; c) Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center; d) Supervise the implementation of the plan and programs of the Council; e) Conduct capability-building initiatives for farmers, processors, designers, and other stakeholders; f) Conduct research and development in partnership with appropriate government agencies to advance sustainable bamboo industry development practices ;

g) Submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress and accomplishment of programs and projects; h) Coordinate and tap other national government agencies, local government units, academe, private industry associations, non-government organizations, and civil society organizations in the implementation of this Act; i) Perform such other functions, dutiesm and responsibilities as may be necessary to implement this Act.

Sec. 9. Establishment of Local Bamboo Industry Development Councils.

Provinces, cities, and municipalities, when applicable, shall establish their respective local Bamboo Industry Development Council. Local government units shall conduct a survey of existing bamboo clumps and bamboo processing enterprises in their respective localities.

Sec. 10. Provision of Incentives to Investors in Plantation Development

and Bamboo Processing Factories, The following incentives shall be provided to investors in plantation development and bamboo processing factories: a) Commercial production of bamboo, production of seedlings, establishment of nurseries, and processing of bamboo-based products may qualify for incentives under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, subject to the criteria set by the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, the Board of Investments (BOI), or the appropriate investment promotion agency, as the case may be; b) Plantation shall be accepted as among the collateral for loans in government- owned or controlled banks; c) The plantation developer and bamboo processors shall be given priority to access credit assistance and guarantee schemes being granted by government-owned, controlled and/or -supported financial institutions; d) Bamboo plantations shall not require a cutting permit for harvesting nor shall it need a transport permit. Provided, That such plantation is registered with the Community Environment and Natural Resources office (CENRO) of the DENR.

Sec. 11. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of

this Act shall be sourced from the unexpended contingency fund of the Office of the President, and the existing budget for bamboo industry development and research under the DTI and DENR. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within six (6) months from

the effectivity of this Act, the DTI, in consultation with other concerned government agencies, the academe, the private sector, and non-government organizations, shall

promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. Should any provision herein be declared

unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.

Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations or

other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 15. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its full

9 publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. Approved,