FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 640 
) 
) 
) 
10 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Bamboo and rattan may be relatively lower classes of trees in agro 
forestry but these species have their distinct uses for human beings and for the 
nature. They provide wood for fuel, poles, and edible food. They restore the 
nutrients lost from the ecosystem while at the same time serving as windbreakers 
in their areas. They also help improve the micro-climate so that animals and 
plants have better chances of survival. 
This bill mandates the local government units to establish bamboo 
nurseries and production I dispersal centers that will be supervised and 
controlled by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. These 
projects shall be undertaken through the Integrated National Bamboo and Rattan 
Development Program. 
As part of the State's commitment to its role in providing the people with 
balanced and healthful ecology, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
640 
) 
) 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL BAMBOO AND RATTAN DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM HARMONIZING ECOLOGICAL BALANCE, WITH INDUSTRIAL 
DEVELOPMENT AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 "Integrated National 
Bamboo and Rattan Development Program of 2010." 
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 peoples 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 Terlns: 
a) Bamboo nursery - an area where high quality bamboo planning stocks 
are raised or produced; 
b) Bamboo cultivars - these refer to species or varieties. The cultivate 
variety is a potential source of propagules or propagating materials; 
c) Production I dispersal center - place where bamboo saplings readied for 
transplanting are properly kept and dispersed; 
d) Program - refers to the Integrated National Bamboo and Rattan 
Development Program of 2007. 
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; 
c) social acceptability; 


d) 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 the primary objectives: 
1) Propagation of production of high quality, genetically superior planting 
stocks through sexual and macro- and micro-sexual means; 
2) Dispersal or distribution of planting materials to be disposed at nominal 
amount; 
, 
3) Production or bamboo farming and/or plantation development and 
management; 
4) 
Utilization, processing and marketing including high value product 
development; 
5) Training and extension, including technology packaging and transfer; 
and 
6) 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 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 
However, the local government unit concerned shall administer the herein 
construction for proper programming and implementation of the Program. 
SEC. 7. Determination of Location Sites. - The determination of location 
sites shall be vested in the City / Municipal Bamboo / Rattan Development 
Committee created hereof, with recommendation from local legislative council. 
SEC. 8. Executive Committee. - An Executive Committee of National 
Bamboo / Rattan Development Program is hereby created to be composed of the 
following: 
1) Secretary of Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as 
Chairman; 
2) Secretary of Department of Agriculture, as Vice Chairman; 
3) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, as member; 
4) Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Los Banos, as member; 
5) Such other members as President of the Philippines may designate 
taking into account Section 5, Article XIII of the Constitution. 
, 
The EXCOM may meet and decide on any and all matters concerning the 
implementation of the Program to be monitored by the Regional Offices which 
may be created. 


The EXCOM 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 I Rattan Development Program Committee is hereby 
created in affected provinces. Such Committee shall be chaired by the Provincial 
Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO), the Provincial Planning 
and Development Officer as Vice-chairman and one (1) representative each from 
the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Science and Technology (DOST), Trade 
and Industry (DTI) and the UPLB College of Forestry. 
The 
Provincial 
Committee 
shall 
coordinate 
and 
monitor 
the 
implementation of the Program in the Province. It shall provide the necessary 
information on the provisions of 'the Program, guidelines issued by the EXCOM 
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 (CENRO) as Chairman, and the City / Municipal 
Planning and Development Officer as Vice-chairman and the following as 
members: two (2) members of the local council concerned, the association of 
Barangay Council, one (1) representative from DA, DOST, and DTI. 
SEC. 11. Functions, Duties and Responsibilities of the City / 
Municipal Bamboo / Rattan Development Program Committee. - The City I 
Municipal Bamboo I Rattan Development Program Committee shall perform the 
following functions, duties: 
a) determine and identify the prospective location sites for bamboo 
nursery and dispersal centers; 
b) determine the WOUld-be bamboo cultivars; 
c) 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 EXCOM; and 
d) such other functions that may be assigned by the EXCOM. 
SEC. 12. National Bamboo I Rattan Development Research Office. -
There is hereby created a National Bamboo I Rattan Development Research 
Office, headed by an Executive Director, who shall be appointed by the President 
upon the recommendation of the EXCOM and one (1) representative each from 
the University of the Philippines Los Banos and Department of Environment and 
Natural Resources - EROB; Provided, however, That this Office is under the 
supervision of the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, 
which shall be responsible for the following: 
1. to make the proper researches, studies, information dissemination on 
bamboo cultivation, propagation and production; 
2. to provide scientific and technological assistance on bamboo planting 
procedures; 


3. to determine and make proper technological advances on the usages of 
bamboos; and 
4. other functions as the need arises and recommended by the EXCOM. 
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 under the current year. 
Thereafter, the sums which may be necessary to maintain operation of the 
program shall be shouldered by local government unit concerned. 
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - 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. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,