Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 1143

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to prescribe as a priority program, the scientific
Propagation, culture and development of indigenous raw materials to be
utilized in homecrafts and other industries.

As an appropriate and timely undertaking on the part of the
government, considering our present economic predicament, the growing
need for indigenous raw materials such as bamboo, rattan, buri, anahaw,
tambo and the like as functional and ornamental items for homecrafts and
other industries has been felt and recognized. Despite the enormous
demand for these items as raw materials for semi-finished or finished
products both in the local and international market, it has been noted that
its current supply does not meet the market demand or requirements.
Presently, no planned or organized efforts from either the public or
private sector has yet been undertaken to augment the dwindling supply
of these indigenous materials.

Our country, blessed with favorable climatic conditions and fertile
soil conducive to their growth, has vast areas in our national forest which
had been denuded through misuse or lack of foresight. The establishment.
of pilot demonstration farms for the scientific culture, propagation and
development of indigenous materials in those areas will not only be
Positive steps to preserve our ecosystem but will likewise generate
potentially realizable increments to our economy.

Considering the relatively small investment cost compared to the
projected economic benefits which can be obtained from the
implementation of this program, early passage of this bill is earngstly
requested.

na

LUIS R./VILLAPUERTE


‘Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
@urzen City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1149

HOUSE BILL NO.

AN ACT TO PRESCRIBE, AS A PRIORITY PROGRAM, THE
SCIENTIFIC PROPAGATION, CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF
INDIGENOUS RAW MATERIALS FOR HOMECRAFTS AND
OTHER INDUSTRIES AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby authorized and prescribed, as a priority
Program, the scientific propagation, culture and development of
indigenous raw materials such as bamboo, rattan, buri, anahaw, tambo
and the like for homecrafts and other industries.

Sec. 2. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) shall initially select and allocate not less than ten (10) hectares
each in appropriate sites for every indigenous planting materials referred
to in Section 1 hereof as pilot demonstration farms in selected
municipalities for the implementation of the program envisioned under
this Act during its first year of operation. Thereafter, depending on the
viability of the said pilot farms, the DENR shall annually expand and

diversify the implementation of the same.


Sec. 3. The DENR is hereby authorized to utilize, on an annual
basis, an amount not less than fifteen (15%) per centum of whatever
funds for pilot plantation of selected forest species or reforestation or
other funds that are available for the implementation of the program
under the General Appropriation Act component of the DENR.

Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,