FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. %83 5 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
For a country where bamboos grow wild, it's a wonder why the bamboo industry 
remains in its infancy. As admitted in the Bamboo Information Network (Bamboonet), 
the databank for the bamboo sector within the Department of Science and Technology 
website, "The bamboo processing industry has been in existence for quite sometime. 
However, this sector's influence in the country's economic development has been, at 
best marginal." 
The state of the bamboo industry in the Philippines is "a tragic". 
We have an abundance of bamboo but we do not know much about it. It is so common 
that we ignore its potentials. The bamboo processing industry, on the other hand, is at 
best very small and thinly spread across the archipelago. 
The Philippines is blessed with 64 species of rattan. Twelve of the rattan species 
have commercial value. In spite of the huge rattan resources, the country still imports 
rattan to supplement local demand. This is because present rattan utilization pattern will 
deplete supply of local and global markets if production is not augmented. 
This bill aims to address the pressing problems of the bamboo and rattan 
industries by creating Philippine Bamboo and Rattan Center which shall be under the 
supervision and control of the Department of Agriculture. Its functions, among others, 
will be to conserve, propagate and promote bamboo and rattan as sources of food, 
furniture and light construction materials and other industrial products and to 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. 
In view of the foregoing considerations, approval of this bill is sincerely sought 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
CREATING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO AND RATTAN CENTER (PBRC) TO 
CONSERVE, PROPAGATE AND PROMOTE BAMBOO AND RATTAN SPECIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House Representatives of the Philippines in 
SECTION 1. Title. -This Act shall be known as the “Bamboo and Rattan Act.” 
Congress assembled: 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - 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. -The following terms shall mean: 
a) “Bamboo and Rattan Center” refers to the Bamboo and Rattan centers in Luzon, 
b) “Rattan” refers to all members of the climbing palm belonging to Subfamily 
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 
that 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. 
Visayas and Mindanao, and those that will be created pursuant to this Act; 
Calamoideae of the Family Palmae or Arecaceae; 
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SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the PBRC.- The PBRC shall have the following 
powers and functions: 
a) Conserve, propagate and promote bamboo and rattan as sources of food, 
furniture and light construction materials and other industrial products; 
b) 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: 
c) Undertake training programs for farmers, particularly smallholder farmers and 
CARP beneficiaries, designed to transfer technology on the proper establishment 
procedure of bamboo and rattan plantations and efficient processing of bamboo 
and rattan products; 
d) Encourage small farm owners to engage in bamboo and rattan plantation 
development and processing business to improve their living conditions; 
e) Undertake research activities in all disciplines that lead to the improvement of the 
over-all productivity of the bamboo and rattan; 
9 Increase the existing plantation of bamboo and rattan to keep pace with human 
population growth; and 
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 or head of agency. 
SEC. 6. Priorities. -The PBRC shall give priority to the following activities: 
a) Expand bamboo and rattan plantations and improve the 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; 
d) Socio-economic researches to ensure economic viability and acceptance of 
technology by farmers; and 
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 the farmers. 
SEC. 7. PBRC Advisory Board. - The PBRC Advisory Board shall be composed 
of the following: 
a) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture of his representative, as Chairman; 
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b) Undersecretary for Regional Operations, Department of Agriculture, as Vice 
Chairman: 
c) Executive Director, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural 
d) Director, Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture 
e) President of the Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC) in Magalang, Pampanga; 
Chancellor of the UP Los Banos (UPLB) in Laguna; and 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, llocos Norte; Leyte University (LSU) in 
Baybay, Leyte; West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Iloilo; 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; and the president of the state college or 
university where rattan and bamboo center my be established pursuant to this 
Act; 
9 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 f the bamboo and 
b) Review and recommend the annual budget of the PBRC; 
c) Evaluate the implementation , efficiency and effectiveness of the programs and 
d) Recommend the establishment or abolition of bamboo and rattan centers as may 
Resources, Research and Development (PCARRD); 
rattan industry; 
projects of the PBRC; and 
be deemed necessary. 
SEC. 9. Executive Director of PBRC. - The Executive Director of 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 
c) Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the PBRC Advisory Board. 
Bamboo and Rattan Program; and 
SEC.10. Appointment of Directors or Center Chiefs of other Bamboo and Rattan 
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. 
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SEC.11. Functions of the Directors or Center Chiefs of Other Bamboo and 
Rattan 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 
b) Recommend the creation of divisions and sections including the staffing pattern 
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; 
9 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. 
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 (IO) 
bamboo and rattan centers. The centers in Luzon shall be located at Pampanga 
Agricultural College (PAC) in Magalang, Pampanga; UP. Los Banos (UPLB) in Laguna; 
Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA) in Camiling, Tarlac; Ramon Magsaysay 
Technological University (RMTU) in San Marcelino, Zambales; Mariano Marcos State 
University (MMSU) in llocos Norte. The Centers in Visayas shall be at Leyte State 
University (LSU) in Baybay, Leyte; 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 University (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' associations 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 CARP and other smallholder 
centers & areas of responsibility; 
of the centers; 
farmers shall be given priority in the bamboo and rattan distribution program. 
SEC. 15. Participation 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 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 
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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 fifty 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 (1 0%) 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 
fifty million yearly for Bamboo and Rattan Processing and entrepreneurship assistance 
to farmerdgrowers; bamboo processors and for research/development 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 PBRC. - Upon approval of 
this Act, the existing Bamboo and Rattan programs and projects implemented by 
various agencies shall be transferred to the PBRC. 
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 and thereafter. Initial funding shall be sourced out by the 
government thru Official Development Assistance of China in the amount of five million 
US dollars with counterpart funding from Philippine government. 
SEC.20. Separability 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. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. 
Approved, 
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