1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3377 
Introduced by  
Representatives Jose Manuel F. Alba, Jonathan Keith T. Flores, Laarni Lavin 
Roque, Audrey Tan-Zubiri, Arlyn P. Ayon, and Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon  
AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAMBOO 
INDUSTRY BY STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY 
DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, 
CREATING 
THE 
BAMBOO 
INDUSTRY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, PROVIDING INCENTIVES 
FOR BAMBOO PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is 6th among the largest exporters of bamboo in the 
world having a total area of bamboo stands from 39,000-53,000 hectares. In 
2021, Mindanao's bamboo industry received an International Commodity 
Certification (ICC) which will allow it to penetrate various multi-billion-dollar 
industries This was prompted by the rising global demand for bamboo and 
bamboo products as substitutes for all wood-based products. 
In Bukidnon alone, various species of bamboo including Bambusa 
blumeana and Dentrocalamus asper can be found and utilized for housing or 
building construction. It can also be used as a raw material for 
manufacturing paper and textiles, raw material for fuel, pellets, and chips. 
August 7, 2025
12:07 pm


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With the moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber, bamboo is 
truly the best substitute. 
Unfortunately, the bamboo industry in the Philippines cannot attain 
its full potential in various areas such as export products manufacturing, 
rural employment generation, local economic development, as well as 
community livelihood growth because it is hampered by the lack of concrete 
strategic direction and national policies on the development of the bamboo 
industry.  
This Bill seeks to further strengthen the Philippine Bamboo Industry 
Development Council and to create the Bamboo Industry Research and 
Development Center, empowered to provide overall policy and program 
direction. These will ensure proper implementation of the Bamboo Industry 
Roadmap. The roadmap supports the scientific propagation, development, 
management, processing and commercialization of bamboo creating a 
circular economy centered on sustainability.  
It is significantly important to note that this measure has been 
approved, and transmitted to the Senate, during the 19th Congress.   
For the foregoing reasons, the immediate consideration and approval 
of this bill is earnestly sought. 
JOSE MANUEL F. ALBA 
Representative, 1st District, Bukidnon 
AUDREY TAN-ZUBIRI 
Representative, 3rd District, Bukidnon 
JONATHAN KEITH T. FLORES 
Representative, 2nd District, 
Bukidnon 
LAARNI LAVIN ROQUE 
Representative, 4th District, Bukidnon 
ARLYN P. AYON 
Representative, Swerte Party-list 
ANNA VICTORIA VELOSO-TUAZON 
Representative, 3rd District, Leyte 


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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 3377
Introduced by  
Representatives Jose Manuel F. Alba, Jonathan Keith T. Flores, Laarni Lavin 
Roque, Audrey Tan-Zubiri, Arlyn P. Ayon, and Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAMBOO 
INDUSTRY BY STRENGTHENING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY 
DEVELOPMENT 
COUNCIL, 
CREATING 
THE 
BAMBOO 
INDUSTRY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, PROVIDING INCENTIVES 
FOR BAMBOO PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1.  Short Title.  –  This Act shall be known as the “Philippine 
Bamboo Industry Sustainable Development Act.”  
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to promote 
and support industries that generate employment especially in the rural 
areas, reduce poverty, foster a sustainable environment, and mitigate the 
impacts of climate change.   
It shall also be the policy of the State to foster a self-reliant and 
independent economy that supports indigenous, scientific and technological 


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capabilities, and skills. To this end, the State shall recognize the strategic 
importance of bamboo as a sturdy, versatile, and replenishable material that 
can be a sustainable source of livelihood and catalyst for agricultural 
productivity.   
The State shall likewise ensure the integrated and continuous 
development of the Philippine bamboo industry through policies and 
programs that encourage the planting of bamboo, 
accelerate the 
development of bamboo-based products and designs, and promote 
Philippine bamboo products in international markets.  It shall establish a 
program for sustainable utilization, propagation and promotion of bamboo 
as furniture, food, construction and design material, and other uses.  
  
SEC. 3.  The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program. – The 
Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, herein after referred to as 
the Council, shall formulate the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development 
Program, herein after referred to as the Program which shall include plans of 
actions and projects for the scientific propagation, development and 
management, 
processing, 
utilization, 
business 
development, 
and 
commercialization of Philippine bamboo and bamboo products, through the 
cooperation of all stakeholders of the industry  that include producers of 
raw materials, processors, marketing and promotion service providers, and 
concerned national agencies and local government units (LGUs).        
  
SEC. 4. Objectives of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development 
Program. – The Program shall aim to make the Philippine bamboo industry 
competitive in the local and global markets and provide opportunities for 
local employment and the establishment of bamboo-based community 
enterprises. The Program shall:  
  
(a) Ensure that the bamboo industry has sufficient quality raw 
materials through the establishment and management of bamboo 
nurseries and plantations;   


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(b) Ensure that the bamboo industry continuously receives from the 
research and development sector information about relevant 
technologies and new products;  
(c) Ensure that the industry receives pertinent and accurate data from 
the PBIDC upon which the industry can make business decisions;  
(d) Promote investments in the bamboo industry by providing 
substantial 
incentives 
to 
investors 
and 
encouraging 
the 
establishment of bamboo plantations and bamboo processing 
operations;  
(e) Provide skilled labor and manpower through continuous relevant 
capacity building;  
(f) Provide continuous training and capacity building in bamboo 
plantation 
operations, 
bamboo 
processing, 
and 
product 
development and design;                                                    
(g) Ensure provision of locally manufactured machines of improved 
capacity and quality at competitive costs;  
(h) Ensure markets of bamboo products locally and globally; and   
(i) Ensure sustainable resources for implementing the bamboo 
industry development program.  
  
SEC. 5 Role of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council. – 
The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, created under 
Executive Order No. 879, series of 2010, hereinafter referred to as the 
Council, shall provide the overall policy and program directions of various 
agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the implementation of the 
Program.  
  
The Council shall be administratively attached to the Department of 
Trade and Industry (DTI) and shall be composed of the following:  
  
(a) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as 
Chairperson;  


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(b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR);  
(c) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);  
(d) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd);  
(e) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);  
(f) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);  
(g) Executive 
Director 
of 
the 
Bamboo 
Industry 
Research 
and 
Development Center;  
(h) Chairperson of the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples;  
(i) 
National President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines;   
(j) 
Executive Director of the Union of Local Authorities of the 
Philippines;  
(k) Two (2) Representatives from Non-Government Organizations;   
(l) 
One Representative from a reputable private industry association; 
and  
(m) One Representative each from the Bamboo Farmers, the Bamboo 
Manufacturers, and the Bamboo Processors’ Associations.   
  
The Council shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be 
necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Act.  
  
 
SEC. 6. Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center. – The 
Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center, hereinafter referred to 
as the Center, is hereby created to serve as the secretariat of the Council.  It 
shall be headed by an Executive Director and shall consist of divisions as 
may be necessary to ensure the effective implementation of the goals and 
objectives of the Center, including the following functions: research and 
development; trade promotion and education; networking and linkages; 
internal administration and finance; and such other divisions as may be 
necessary.   
  
The organizational structure, staffing pattern and compensation 
schedule of the Center shall be prepared in accordance with existing laws, 
rules and regulations. Other member agencies of the Council shall provide 


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additional administrative and technical staff support to the Center upon the 
determination by the Council of the necessity for such augmentation.  
  
The Center shall perform the following powers and functions:  
 
(a) Promote and encourage the establishment and management of 
bamboo nurseries, plantations and processing facilities that would 
accelerate the production and commercialization of bamboo and 
various bamboo products;  
(b) Promote the commercialization and market access of appropriate, 
innovative and viable bamboo industry development technologies 
and products;  
(c) Monitor and evaluate the performance of bamboo industry 
development programs and projects;  
(d) Coordinate and partner with other government agencies in the 
implementation of bamboo industry development programs and 
projects;  
(e) Coordinate 
and 
partner 
with 
the 
private 
sector, 
people's 
organizations and 
non-governmental organizations, 
and 
the 
academe in providing assistance on matters pertaining to bamboo 
industry development;  
(f) Accept grants, donations and contributions from local and 
international donors and such similar sources of funds for the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act, subject to the usual 
budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations;  
(g) Conduct capability-building initiatives for farmers, processors, 
designers, and other stakeholders in the bamboo industry;  
(h) Conduct research and development in partnership with appropriate 
government agencies to advance sustainable bamboo industry 
development practices;  
(i) Supervise the implementation of the plans and programs of the 
Council;  
(j) Manage and administer the projects identified by the Council;   


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(k) Conduct, 
in 
cooperation 
or 
partnership 
with 
appropriate 
government agencies, a periodic review of the Philippine Bamboo 
Industry Development Roadmap; and  
(l) Submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress and 
accomplishment of programs and projects.  
  
SEC. 7. The Executive Director of the Center. – The Executive Director 
shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Center with the approval of the 
Council. The Executive Director shall be a citizen and resident of the 
Philippines and must possess executive and management experience of at 
least three (3) years, and considerable knowledge about the bamboo 
industry.  
 In addition, the Executive Director shall have the following powers 
and functions: 
(a) Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center;   
(b) Provide technical and administrative support to the Council;   
(c) Assist the Council in the performance of its tasks; and  
(d) Perform such other functions, duties and responsibilities as may be 
necessary to implement this Act.  
  
SEC. 8.  Support to the Program by Local Government Units.  –  Local 
government units (LGUs) shall participate in the implementation of the 
Program. All provinces, cities, and municipalities shall establish a Bamboo 
Industry Development Council and shall endeavor to capacitate agricultural 
workers and encourage entrepreneurs in harvesting and post-harvesting 
operations.   
Provincial governments shall formulate and implement their respective 
bamboo industry development programs within two (2) years from the 
enactment of this law.  
  
SEC. 9. Incentives for Bamboo in Plantation Development. – Investors 
in bamboo plantation development shall enjoy the following incentives: 
  


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(a) Exemption from the payment of rent for the use of government 
lands for commercial bamboo plantation for the first five (5) years 
of operation reckoned from the date of the first harvest of the 
plantation;  
(b) In the case of private plantations, exemption from the requirement 
to secure a cutting permit for the harvesting of bamboo and a 
transport permit for as long as the plantation is registered with the 
Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of 
the DENR:  Provided, That the plantation owner shall inform the 
CENRO about the date of harvest, and the estimated volume of the 
harvest. Inventory of the plantation prior to harvest shall not be 
required.  All CENROs shall approve and enter into a registry, the 
names of private bamboo plantation investors;  
(c) Exemption from the payment of forest charges and other fees for 
taxes that local government units may impose;  
(d) Access to development loans from public financial institutions for 
plantation developers;   
(e) Insurance coverage of plantations and plantation development 
equipment by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation;  
(f) Tax free importation of plantation development equipment, 
including tree nursery facilities, pursuant to Republic Act No. 
10863, otherwise known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff 
Act (CMTA);  
(g) To claim expenses incurred for plantation operations as deductible 
expenses for income tax purposes, subject to the provisions of the 
National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: Provided, 
That the deduction shall only apply to the taxable period when the 
expenses were incurred;  
(h) To claim as ordinary and necessary expenses or as capital 
expenditure expenses incurred in the development and operation of 
a bamboo plantation prior to the initial commercial harvest;  


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(i) Prioritized access for plantation developers to credit assistance 
from 
government-owned, 
controlled 
or 
supported 
financial 
institutions;  
(j) Acceptance of plantation as collateral for loans in government-
owned-or-controlled banks;  
(k) In the case of a tenured developer, entitlement to fair compensation 
upon the premature termination of the agreement at no fault of the 
holder: Provided, That all depreciable permanent and semi-
permanent improvements such as roads, buildings, and nurseries 
including the planted and standing trees and other forest crops 
introduced and retained in the area, shall be properly evaluated: 
Provided, further, That the amount of  compensation shall be 
mutually agreed upon by both the Department and the tenure 
holder: Provided, finally, That in case of disagreement between 
them, the matter     shall be submitted to arbitration by a mutually 
acceptable and impartial third party adjudicator;  
(l) No volume restriction in the exportation of bamboo culms from 
plantation;  
(m) Tax free importation of processing equipment by processors 
engaged 
in 
bamboo 
industry, 
pursuant 
to 
the 
Customs 
Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA); and   
(n) Inclusion in the annual investment program of the National 
Economic Development Authority of industrial bamboo plantations 
in forest lands and priority access to funds from external and 
internal sources.  
  
SEC. 10.  Appropriations.  – The funds necessary to carry out the 
initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s 
budget of the DTI.  Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act.  
  


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SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days 
after the effectivity of this Act, the DTI and the Council shall, in coordination 
with the DENR, and DOST promulgate the rules and regulations to 
implement this Act.    
  
SEC. 12.  Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act or part 
hereof is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not 
affected by such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.   
  
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, executive and administrative 
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed 
or amended accordingly.  
  
SEC. 14. Effectivity. –  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation.  
  
Approved,