SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

House of nen ives
H.B. No. Ba

Introduced by: Representative Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

AN ACT
BAMBOO AS AN UNREGUALTED FOREST PRODUCT
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

TO CLASS

Explanatory Note

The demand for bamboo and bamboo products has been rising steadily over the past decade
and it is expected to increase further. This has been partly due to the declining supply of
wood and bamboo has taken its place in various uses such as in construction, manufacture of
furniture and handicrafts and as raw material for pulp and paper. New products have also
been developed from bamboo such as textiles, food and beverage products and as biomass
fuel in the form of charcoal, pellets and chips

Unfortunately the bamboo industry in the Philippines cannot attain its potential in increasing
exports, providing employment, contributing to economic development and community
livelihood because it is hampered by insufficiency of raw materials, The private sector is not
investing in bamboo plantation development and farmers are not planting new clumps
because of current policies of government towards bamboo in particular and other forest
products in general

Presidential Decree No. 705 otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code classifies
bamboo as forest product (Section 3 Definition of Terms), The definition does not
specifically mention bamboo but forest growths such as grass. By inference, since bamboo is
a grass it must be inchided in the coverage of Section 3 of PD No, 705, Furthermore, Section
72 of PD 705 on Charges on Minor Forest Products specifically mentioned bamboo under
this category

Bamboo has not been given much importance in policy promulgations under the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) unlike rattan for which DAO No. 04
(Revised Regulations Governing Rattan Resources, Jan 10, 1989) was promulgated on its
harvesting and on the rehabilitation of the resource. Any policy affecting bamboo is by
reason of its being a minor (or non-timber) forest product. Such policies have been affecting
its utilization and development of the resource.


DENR AO No. 07-1994 requires that bamboo harvested in public lands should have a
Certificate of Origin (CO) to be able to be transported outside of the province. For bamboo
harvested from private lands a Certificate of Verification (CY) issued by the Community
Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) is required, Prior to issuance of a CV.
an inyentory of the bamboo resources in the private land is conducted by the CENRO even
for only a few culms to be harvested, Often the inventory is delayed because of the absence
of personnel from the CENRO to conduet the inventory. Furthermore, the farmers who need
CY have to travel to the CENRO which is a distance from their residences causing them to
incur expenses they could hardly afford.

According to the bamboo farmers/bamboo buyers while on the road they are often harassed
by agents of government who demand that they come across. This situation has been
discouraging bamboo farmers from expanding their existing bamboo plantings thus
aggravating the raw material supply situation of the industry, Most of the current supply of
bamboo raw materials is coming from small-hold bamboo farmers.

A specific policy regulating the bamboo is critical in promoting the bamboo industry and
improving its raw material supply situation i

DEOGRACIAS VI
Represntat

“DV” B. SAVELLANO
1" District [locos Sur


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

House of Repgssenyayives
H.B. No,

Introduced by: Representative Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

AN ACT
‘TO CLASSIFY BAMBOO AS AN UNREGUALTED FOREST PRODUCT
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled:

SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Bamboo Deregulation Act of 2016”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy ~ tis the policy of the State to promote industries
that utilize local resources for the creation of employment, generation of sustainable
livelihood in rural communities to attain inclusive economic growth, contribute to the
country’s gross domestic product, help mitigate and adopt to climate change and support
sustainable environmental conservation and rehabilitation,

SECTION 3. Objective ~ It is the objective of this Act to promote the development of the
Philippine Bamboo Industry by streamlining policies that constrain its growth, encourage
investors to invest in the establishment of plantations and processing factories and provide
sustainable livelihood in the rural areas.

SECTION 4. Deregulation of Bamboo — Bamboo culms, whether planted or grown
naturally in forest lands or in private lands, are hereby deregulated. The harvest and transport
of bamboo culms shall no longer require any permit from any government agency and shall
not be subjected to inspection by any government or non-government entity while being
transported,

SECTION 5, Naturally Growing Bamboo in Forest Lands —Concessions for the harvest
of naturally growing bamboo in forest lands outside of tenured areas shall be granted by the
DENR to qualified applicants, Holders of tenure of forest lands are authorized to harvest
naturally growing bamboo within their tenured ares

SECTION 6, Incentives for Plantation Grown Bamboo ~ Bamboo plantations, in forest
lands or in private lands shall be granted incentives that PD 705 provides for industrial tree
plantations. They shall also be included in the Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) of the
government,



SECTION 7. Payment of Forest Charges — Naturally grown bamboo harvested in forest
lands shall pay the required forest charges as promulgated in RA No, 7161, Plantation grown
bamboo in forest lands and in private lands shall be free from forest charges.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR),the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department
of Finance shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this Act within sixty
(60) days after its approval.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - \f any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall
remain valid,

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. ~ Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its full
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,