FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Xkj p< :i’,! 
SENATE 
S. NO. 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks the creation of the Philippines Bamboo and Rattan Center (PBRC). 
The creation of this Center will boost the efforts towards the development of the bamboo and 
rattan industry which is expected to eventually contribute to the growth of the Philippine 
economy for its high potentials of generating additional revenues for our farmers and processors. 
Said Center aims, among others, to promote bamboo and rattan as sources of food, furniture, 
light construction materials and other industrial products; to enable the farmers to avail 
themselves of high quality bamboo and rattan planting stocks at all times and at reasonable 
prices; to undertake training programs for farmers on the proper establishment procedure of 
bamboo and rattan plantations and its efficient processing thereafter; to encourage small farm 
owners to engage in bamboo and rattan plantation development and processing business; to 
undertake research activities in all disciplines leading to the improvement of the over-all 
productivity of the bamboo and rattan. 
In sum, the Philippine Bamboo and Rattan Center (PBRC) shall prioritize to increase the 
productivity and efficiency of the bamboo and rattan plantations through employing the socio- 
economic researches that ensure economic viability and the development of appropriate 
technologies that are cost-effective, simple and practical for the industry. With this bill, the 
implementation of a bamboo and rattan distribution and propagation program to primarily benefit 
the smallholder farmers will be facilitated while the farmer-participants will be encouraged to 
establish strong farmer’s associations or cooperatives to serve as focal point for government 
assistance in this industry. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
ANTONIO ‘‘SONNY” F. TRKLANES rv 
Senator 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF TBE 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
S. NO.. 
9 
Introduced by Senator Antonio “Sonny” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
PROPOSING THE CREATION OF THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO AND RATTAN 
CENTER (PBRC) TO CONSERVE, PROPAGATE AND PROMOTE BAMBOO AND 
RATTAN SPECIES 
Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall he known as the “Bamboo and Rattan Act of2008 ”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration ofPolicy. - The Constitution provides that the State shall develop a 
self-reliant and independent national economy effectively controlled by Filipinos. It also 
provides that the State shall support indigenous, appropriate and self-reliant scientific and 
technological capabilities, and their application to the country’s productive systems and national 
life. Towards this end, the State shall establish various programs to conserve, propagate and 
promote bamboo and rattan as sources of food, furniture and light construction materials. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
a) “Bamboo and Rattan Center” refers to the Philippine National Bamboo and Rattan Center 
at the Pampanga Agricultural College in Magalang, Pampanga, the other bamboo and 
rattan centers in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and those that will be created pursuant to 
the enactment of this Act.; 
b) “Rattan” refers to all members of the climbing palm belonging to Subfamily Calamoideae 
of the Family Palmae or Arecaceae; 
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c) “Bamboo” refers to all members of the tall or shrubby grasses with woody culms under 
the Subfamily Bambusoideae of the Family Graminae or Poaceae; 
d) “Smallholder Farmer” refers to a farmer owning or cultivating a farmland of less than or 
equal to five (5) hectares; 
e) “Semi-Commercial Production” refers to a farmer owning or cultivating a farmland of 
more than five (5) hectares; 
SEC. 4. Creation of the Philippine Bamboo and Rattan Center. - There is hereby 
created a Philippine Bamboo and Rattan Center, hereinafter referred to as the PBRC, which 
shall be under the supervision and control of the Department of Agriculture. 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the PBRC - The PBRC shall have the following 
powers and functions: 
Conserve, propagate and promote bamboo and rattan as sources of food, furniture 
and light construction materials and other industrial products; 
Enable the farmers, particularly smallholder farmers and CARP beneficiaries to 
avail themselves of high quality bamboo and rattan planting stocks at all times and 
at reasonable prices through an organized program of propagation, breeding, 
training and distribution; 
Undertake training programs for farmers, particularly smallholder farmers and 
CARP beneficiaries, designed to transfer technology on the proper processing of 
bamboo and rattan products; 
Encourage small farms owners to engage in bamboo and rattan plantation 
development and processing business to improve their living conditions; 
Undertake research activities in all disciplines that lead to the improvement of the 
over-all productivity of the bamboo and rattan; 
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population growth; and 
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of head of agency. 
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d) Socio-economic researches to ensure economic viability and acceptance of 
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technology by farmers; and 
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the farmers. 
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following: 
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a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture or his representative, as Chairman; 
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b) Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Department of Agriculture, as Vice 
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Chairman; 
f )  
Increase the existing plantation of bamboo and rattan to keep with human 
g) 
Enter into memoranda of agreement and receive donations through the Department 
of Agriculture from local and foreign sources. Upon the recommendation of the 
PBRC Advisory Board, the individual bamboo and rattan centers may enter into 
agreements directly with funding agencies through their respective board of regents 
SEC. 6. Priurita -The PBRC shall give priority to the following activities: 
a) Expand bamboo and rattan plantations and improve them per unit area productivity; 
b) Development of bamboo and rattan plantation establishment procedure for backyard 
and semi-commercial production, improving planting materials production efficiency, 
physiology and schemes to reduce losses caused by pests and diseases; 
c) Propagation, breeding, site species matching and plant nutrition; 
e) Development of appropriate technologies that are cost-effective, simple and practical. 
At least five (5) hectares bamboo setum and five (5) hectares rattan gene bank shall 
be established by each bamboo and rattan center to ensure the preservation of the 
existing bamboo and rattan genetic materials in the Philippines and provide option to 
SEC. 7. PBRC Advisory Board. - The PBRC Advisory Board shall be composed of the 
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c) Executive Director, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural 
Resources, Research and Development (PCARRD); 
d) Director, Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture; 
e) President of the Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC) in Magalang, Pampanga; 
Chancellor of the W Los Bafios (UPLB) in Laguna; and the Presidents of Tarlac 
College of Agriculture (TCA) in Camiling, Tarlac; Ramon Magsaysay Technological 
University (RMTU) in San Marcelino, Zambales; Mariano Marcos State University 
(MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos norte; Leyte State University (LSU) in Baybay, Leyte; 
West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo; central Mindanao University 
(CMSU) in Bukidnon; Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic College (SKPSC) in Tacurong, 
Sultan Kudarat; and Western Philippine University (WPU) in Aborlan, Palawan; and 
the president of the state college or university where a rattan and bamboo center may 
be established pursuant to this Act; 
f) Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry; 
g) Ecosystem Research and Development Bureau; 
h) Executive Director of PBRC; and 
i) Farmers’ representative to be appointed by the Board. 
SEC. 8. Functions of the PBRC Advisory Board. - The PBRC Advisory Board shall 
perform the following functions: 
a) Formulate policies, programs, and projects for the development of the bamboo and 
rattan industry; 
b) Review and recommend the annual budget of the PBRC; 
c) Evaluate the implementation, efficiency, and effectiveness of the programs and 
projects o f  the PBRC; and 
d) Recommend the establishment or abolition o f  bamboo and rattan centers as may be 
deemed necessary. 
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SEC. 9. Akewtive Director of the PBRC. - The Executive Director of the PBRC shall be 
appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. The Executive Director of the 
PBRC shall perform the following functions: 
a) Oversee the implementation of the policies, programs, and projects of the PBRC; 
b) Assist the PBRC Advisory Board in the review, evaluation and monitoring of the 
Bamboo and Rattan Program; and 
c) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the PBRC Advisory Board. 
SEC. 10. Appointment of Directors or Center Chiefs of Other Bnmboo and Rnttan 
Centers. - The Directors or Center Chiefs of other bamboo and rattan centers shall be appointed 
by the respective board of regents or head of agency. 
SEC. 11. Functions of the Directors or Center Chiefs of Other Bamboo and Raffan 
Centers. - Subject to the policies of the PBRC, the Directors or Center Chiefs of other bamboo 
and rattan centers shall perform the following functions: 
a) Administer the policies, programs, and projects of the PBRC in their respective 
centers and areas of responsibility; 
b) Recommend the creation of divisions and sections including the staffing pattern of 
the centers; 
c) Prepare the annual budget of their centers; 
d) Approve the expenditures of their respective budgets; 
e) Recommend to their respective heads of agency the appointment of personnel or 
consultants; 
f) Recommend policies, programs, and projects to the Executive Director of the PBRC; 
and 
g) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Executive Director of the 
PBRC. 
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SEC. 12. Implementation and Coordination of the Program. - The PBRC Advisory 
Board through the Executive Director shall coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the implementation 
of the bamboo and rattan programs. It shall identify, through the Directors of bamboo and rattan 
centers and Center Chiefs from the various implementing stations, the programs and projects in 
the areas of propagation, breeding, distribution, soil requirement plant nutrition, and processing 
of bamboo and rattan raw material. It shall formulate strategies relative to the propagation and 
distribution of the bamboo and rattan. Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao shall initially have a total 
of ten (10) bamboo and rattan centers. The centers in L m n  shall be located at Pampanga 
Agricultural College (PAC) in Magalang, Pampanga; UP Los Baiios (UPLB) in Laguna; Tarlac 
College of Agriculture (TA) in Camiling, Tarlac; Ramon Magsaysay Technological University 
(RMTU) in San Marcelino, Zambales; Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos 
Norte. The centers in Visayas shall be at Leyte Sate University (LSU) in Baybay, Leyter; and 
West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo. The centers in Mindanao shall be at Central 
Mindanao University (CMU) in Bukidnon; Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College (SKPSC) 
in Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat; and Western Philippine State University (WPSU) in Aborlan 
Palawan. These centers shall specialize in the development of technology on propagation, 
breeding, plant nutrition, site species matching, and processing of bamboo and rattan raw 
materials. 
SEC. 13. Farmer’s Participation. - The farmer-participants shall be encouraged to 
establish strong farmers’ association or cooperatives to serve as focal point for government 
assistance in the propagation and distribution of bamboo and rattan and the dissemination of 
technology on bamboo and rattan. 
SEC. 14. Beneficiaries. - The beneficiaries of the CARP and other smallholder farmers 
shall be given priority in the bamboo and rattan distribution program. 
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SEC. 15. Partic@ation of the Department of Agriculture and Local Government Units. 
- The bamboo and rattan centers, the regional and provincial offices of the Department of 
Agriculture, specifically the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the local government units shall 
implement a bamboo and rattan distribution and propagation program within their respective 
areas in accordance with the national policy and program of the PBRC. The PBRC shall adopt a 
national dispersal program to primarily benefit the smallholder farmers and CARP beneficiaries. 
Any income from the sale of bamboo and rattan shall be placed in a revolving fund to be used 
in the propagation and distribution of bamboo and rattan. 
SEC. 16. Use of Funds. - Not more than fifiy percent (50%) of funds allocated under 
this Act and in subsequent annual appropriations shall be used for personal services, and 
maintenance and operating expenses, ten percent (10%) for research and development, forty 
percent (40%) for bamboo and rattan dispersal and distribution. All income generated by the 
PBRC, as well as donations, shall be used to augment the budget of the center with an annual 
expenditure program to be recommended and approved by the Board. The Office of the 
President, through PAGCOR, shall also allocate 50M yearly for Bamboo and Rattan Processing 
and 
entrepreneurship assistance to 
farmers/growers; bamboo 
processors 
and 
for 
researcWdevelopment and extension activities. 
SEC. 17. Annual Report. - The PBRC shall submit an annual report to the Office of the 
President, the Senate, and the House of Representatives indicating among others hectarage of 
established bamboo and rattan plantations, the number of bamboo and rattan distributed, and the 
names of the beneficiaries. 
SEC. 18. Transfer of Bamboo and Rattan Programs to the PBRC. - Upon approval of 
this Bill, the extending Bamboo and Rattan programs and projects implemented by various 
agencies shall be transferred to the PBRC. 
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SEC. 19. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of,this Act 
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law 
thereafter. 
SEC. 20. Sepambili& Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act shall be held 
invalid or unconstitutional, the rest of the provisions shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts 
thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly: 
Provided, however, That nothing in this Act shall amend, modify or repeal the provision of 
Republic Act No. 160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code 
SEC. 22. Eflectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifieen (15) days from the date of its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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