Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session

House Bill No. 928

Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Bill secks to establish an Integrated National Bamboo and Rattan
Development Program which shall harmonize ecological balance with industrial
development and at the same time, conserving its remaining natural resources.

Government support for the intensive development of bamboo and rattan farms
owned by forest dwellers and the rural poor can be a strategic move in upgrading the
quality of life of Filipinos. Bamboo and rattan play a major role in agro-forestry.
Besides, providing such useful products as fuelwood, poles and even edible food. They
also minimize nutrient drain due to leaching and soil erosion, restore nutrient lost from
the ecosystem, and perform other key environmental services. They serve as wind-
breakers or as shade trees in pastures and fields, helping to improve the micro-climate so
that animals and plants have better chances of survival.

Bamboo and rattan can also be used as an alternative scheme for our
reforestration program. While there are serious and determined attempts to replenish
trees felled by loggers in some areas, the sheers size of the denuded forest and the length
of time needed to grow replacement trees clearly indicate the need to implement an
immediate but less expensive alternative. By instituting this program, a less expensive
alternative reforestration scheme, the State will be able to protect the Filipino people
from the endangered fragile ecosystem affected by pollution, toxic waste and denudation
of forest through wanton illegal logging.

Hence, an immediate and favorable action regarding this piece of legislative work
eamestly requested.

C
1b. Wwwele
Hon. CZARINA D. UMALI

Representative
3" District, Nueva Ecija


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 928

Introduced by Honorable Czarina D. Umali

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL BAMBOO AND RATTAN DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

SEC. |. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Integrated National Bamboo
and Rattan Development Program”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. — It is hereby declared to be the
national policy of the State to develop the bamboo and rattan propagation of the country
and provide adequate measures to insure permanent stability in the production thereof.

The welfare and interest of the people to achieve environmental equilibrium with
industrial development will receive the highest consideration to promote ecological
awareness and to move the nation towards industrialization and progress.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms:

a) bamboo nursery — an area where high quality bamboo planting stocks are
raised or produced

b) bamboo cultivars — these refer to species or varieties. The cultivated variety
is a potential source of propagules or propagating materials.

©) production/dispensal center — place where bamboo samplings readied for
transplanting are properly kept and dispersed.

d) Program — refers to the Integrated National Bamboo and Rattan Development
Program of 1996.


SEC. 4. The Program shall cover only selected local government units on the
basis of the following criteria:

a) availability of land resources;

b) demand and supply;

©) social acceptability;

4) economic and ecological enhancement needs; and

e) over-all compatibility and consistency with existing local, provincial, regional
and national environmental and socio-economic development plans.

SEC. 5. The Program shall cover the following phases considered necessary to
attain its primary objective:

a) Propagation or production of high quality, genetically superior planting stocks
through sexual and macro and micro-sexual means;

b)

Dispersal or distribution of planting materials at a nominal amount;

°)

Production of bamboo farming and/or plantation development and
management;

dq)

Utilization, processing and marketing including high value product
development;

e

‘Training and extension, including technology packaging and transfer; and

f) Research and technology.

SEC. 6. Implementation — All local government units selected are hereby
mandated to construct bamboo nurseries and production/dispersal centers under the
supervision and control of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

SEC. 7. Determination of location sites ~ The determination of local sites shall
be vested in the City/Municipal Bamboo/Rattan Development Committee created hereof,
with recommendation from the local legislative council

SEC. 8. Executive Committee ~ An Executive Committee (EXECOM) of the
National Bamboo/Rattan Development Program is hereby created to be composed of the
following:

a) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as
Chairman;

b) Secretary of Agriculture, as Vice- Chairman:

©) Secretary of Department of Science and Technology, as Member;


d) Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Banos, as Member and
such other members as the President of the Philippines may be designated
taking into account Section 5, Article XIII of the Constitution.

The EXECOM may meet and decide on any and all matters conceming the
implementation of the Program. Provided, however, that its decision must be reported to
the President immediately and not later than the next meeting.

The EXECOM shall be the one to provide guidelines for a province-to-province
implementation of the Program to be monitored by the Regional Offices which may be
created,

SEC. 9. Provincial Bamboo/Rattan Development Program Committee — A
Provincial Bamboo/Rattan Development Program Committee is hereby created in
affected provinces. Such Committee shall be chaired by the Provincial Environment and
Natural Resources (PENRO), the Provincial Planning and Development Officer as Vice-
Chairman and one representative each from the Departments of Agriculture, Science and
Technology, Trade and Industry and the UPLB College of Forestry.

The Provincial Committee shall coordinate and monitor the implementation of the
Program in their respective provinces. It shall provide the necessary information on the
provisions of the Program, implement the guidelines issued by the EXECOM and shall
make a written report on the progress of the Program in the Province.

SEC. 10. City/Municipal Bamboo/Rattan Development Program Committee ~
‘There shall be a City/Municipal Bamboo/Rattan Development Program Committee which
shall be consisted of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer as
Vice-Chairman and the following as members: two members of the local council
concemed, the association of Barangay Council, one representative from DA, DOST and
DIL.

SEC. 11. The City/Municipal Bamboo/Rattan Development Program Committee
shall perform the following:

a) determine and identify the prospective location sites for bamboo nursery and
dispersal centers;

b) determine the would-be bamboo cultivars;
©) assist the DENR-PENRO representative in the preparation of the reports on

the progress of the implementation of the Program by the local government
units (LGU) concerned for submission to the EXECOM.


Sec. 12. Natural Bamboo Research Office. — There is hereby created a National
Bamboo/Rattan Development Research Office, headed by an Executive Director, who
shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the EXECOM and one
representative each from the University of the Philippines-Los Banos, the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Science and Technology,
Provided, however that this Office is under the supervision of the Secretary of the
Department of Science and Technology. This Research Office shall be responsible for
the following:

a. To make the proper researches, studies, information dissemination on
bamboo cultivation, propagation and production;

b. To provide scientific and technological assistance on bamboo planting
procedures;

c. To determine and make proper technological advances on the usages
of bamboos;

d. Such other functions as the need arises and as may be recommended
by the EXECOM.

Sec. 13. Financing. - The Initial amount necessary for the immediate
implementation of the provisions of this Act shall be charged against the appropriations
intended for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of
Science and Technology. Thereafter, the sums which may be necessary to maintain the
operation of the programs shall be shouldered by the local government unit concerned.

SEC. 14. Implementing Rules. - The Secretary of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources shall issue the necessary implementing rules and
regulations within sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act.

SEC. 15. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.