1
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill establishes the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program 
(PBIDP) to promote the scientific propagation, development, management, 
processing, utilization, business development, and commercialization of 
Philippine bamboo and bamboo products through the cooperation of all 
stakeholders. 
The PBIDP 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.  
This bill creates the Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center. This 
measure tasks the Center to, among others, 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. Similarly, the Center can monitor and 
evaluate the performance of bamboo industry development programs and 
projects. 
Finally, another salient portion of this bill is to provide incentives for bamboo in 
plantation development to promote the growth of the industry. 
Hence, this representation seeks the passage of this measure.      
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
February 21, 2023
1:50 pm
7242


 2
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
PROMOTING THE 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
1 
Bamboo Industry Development Act.” 
2 
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. − It is the policy of the State to promote 
4 
and support industries that generate employment especially in the rural areas, 
5 
reduce poverty, foster a sustainable environment, and mitigate the impacts of 
6 
climate change.  
7 
8 
It shall also be the policy of the State to foster a self-reliant and 
9 
independent economy that supports indigenous, scientific and technological 
10 
capabilities, and skills. To this end, the State shall recognize the strategic 
11 
importance of the bamboo as a sturdy, versatile, and replenishable material that 
12 
can be a sustainable source of livelihood and catalyst for agricultural 
13 
productivity.  
14 
15 
The State shall likewise ensure the integrated and continuous 
16 
development of the Philippine bamboo industry through policies and programs 
17 
that encourage the planting of bamboo, accelerate the development of bamboo-
18 
based products and designs, and promote Philippine bamboo products in 
19 
international markets. It shall establish a program for a sustainable utilization, 
20 
propagation and promotion of bamboo as furniture, food, construction and 
21 
design material, and other uses. 
22 
7242


 
 
 
 
3
 
1 
SEC. 3.  The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program 
2 
(PBIDP).−The PBIDC shall formulate the Philippine Bamboo Industry 
3 
Development Program which shall include programs and projects for the 
4 
scientific propagation, development and management, processing, utilization, 
5 
business development, and commercialization of Philippine bamboo and bamboo 
6 
products, through the cooperation of all stakeholders of the industry that include 
7 
producers of raw materials, processors, marketing and promotion service 
8 
providers, and concerned national agencies and local government units (LGUs).       
9 
 
10 
SEC. 4. Objectives of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development 
11 
Program. − The PBIDP shall aim to make the Philippine bamboo industry 
12 
competitive in the local and global markets and provide opportunities for local 
13 
employment and the establishment of bamboo-based community enterprises. 
14 
The PBIDP shall:  
15 
 
16 
(a) Ensure that the bamboo industry has sufficient quality raw materials 
17 
through the establishment and management of bamboo nurseries and 
18 
plantations;  
19 
(b) Ensure that the bamboo industry continuously receives from the 
20 
research and development sector relevant technologies and new 
21 
products; 
22 
(c) Ensure that the industry receives pertinent and accurate data from the 
23 
PBIDC upon which the industry can make business decisions; 
24 
(d) Promote investment in the bamboo industry by establishing bamboo 
25 
plantations and bamboo processing operations, and providing 
26 
substantial incentives to investors; 
27 
(e) Provide skilled labor and manpower through continuous relevant 
28 
capacity building; 
29 
(f) Provide continuous training and capacity building in the bamboo 
30 
industry development;                                                   
31 
(g) Ensure provision of locally manufactured machines of improved 
32 
capacity and quality at competitive costs; 
33 
(h) Ensure markets of bamboo products locally and globally; and  
34 
(i) Ensure sustainable resources for implementing the bamboo industry 
35 
development program. 
36 
 
37 
SEC.  5.  Role of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development 
38 
Council (PBIDC). − The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council 
39 
(PBIDC), created under Executive Order No. 879, series of 2010, hereinafter 
40 
referred to as the Council shall provide the overall policy and program directions 
41 
of various agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the implementation of the 
42 
Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program (PBIDP).  
43 
 
44 
The Council shall be administratively attached to the Department of Trade 
45 
and Industry (DTI) and shall now be composed of the following: 
46 
 
47 
a) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as Chairperson; 
48 
b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
49 
(DENR); 
50 
c) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA); 
51 
d) Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd); 
52 
e) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
53 
f) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); 
54 


 
 
 
 
4
g) Executive Director of the Bamboo Industry Research and Development 
1 
Center; 
2 
h) Chairperson of the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples; 
3 
i) National President of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines;  
4 
j) Executive Director of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines; 
5 
k) Two (2) Representatives from Non-Government Organizations;  
6 
l) One Representative from a reputable private industry association; and 
7 
m) One Representative each from the Bamboo Farmers, the Bamboo 
8 
Manufacturers, and the Bamboo Processors’ Associations.  
9 
 
10 
The PBIDC shall promulgate such rules and regulations as may be 
11 
necessary for the attainment of the objectives of this Act. 
12 
 
13 
  
SEC. 6. Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center (BIRDC). 
14 
− The Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center, hereinafter referred 
15 
to as the Center, is hereby created to serve as the secretariat of the Council to 
16 
be headed by an Executive Director. The Center shall consist of divisions as may 
17 
be necessary to ensure the effective implementation of  the goals and objectives 
18 
of the Center, including the following functions: research and development; trade 
19 
promotion and education; networking and linkages; internal administration and 
20 
finance; and such other divisions as may be necessary.  
21 
 
22 
The organizational structure, staffing pattern and compensation schedule 
23 
of the Center shall be prepared in accordance with existing laws, rules and 
24 
regulations. Other member  agencies of the Council shall provide additional 
25 
administrative and technical staff support to the Center upon the determination 
26 
by the Council of the necessity for such augmentation. 
27 
 
28 
The Center shall perform the following powers and functions: 
29 
a) Promote and encourage the establishment and management of bamboo 
30 
nurseries, plantations and processing facilities that would accelerate 
31 
the production and commercialization of bamboo and various bamboo 
32 
products; 
33 
b) Promote the commercialization and market access of appropriate, 
34 
innovative and viable bamboo industry development technologies and 
35 
products; 
36 
c) Monitor and evaluate the performance of bamboo industry development 
37 
programs   and projects; 
38 
d) Coordinate and partner with other government agencies in the 
39 
implementation of bamboo industry development programs and 
40 
projects; 
41 
e) Coordinate and partner with the private sector, people's organizations 
42 
and non-governmental organizations, and the academe in providing 
43 
assistance on matters pertaining to bamboo industry development; 
44 
f) Accept 
grants, 
donations 
and 
contributions 
from 
local 
and 
45 
international donors and such similar sources of funds for the 
46 
implementation of the provisions of this Act, subject to the usual 
47 
budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations; 
48 
g) Conduct capability-building initiatives for farmers, processors, 
49 
designers, and other stakeholders in the bamboo industry; 
50 
h) Conduct research and development in partnership with appropriate 
51 
government agencies to advance sustainable bamboo industry 
52 
development practices; 
53 
i) Supervise the implementation of the plans and programs of the 
54 
Council; 
55 


 
 
 
 
5
j) Manage and administer the projects identified by the Council;  
1 
k) Conduct, in cooperation or partnership with appropriate government 
2 
agencies, a periodic review of the Philippine Bamboo Industry 
3 
Development Roadmap; and 
4 
l) Submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress and 
5 
accomplishment of programs and projects. 
6 
 
7 
SEC. 7. The Executive Director of the Center. The Executive Director 
8 
shall be  appointed by the Chairperson of the PBIDC with the approval of the 
9 
Council. The Executive Director shall be a citizen and resident of the Philippines 
10 
and must possess executive and management experience of at least three (3) 
11 
years, and considerable knowledge about the bamboo industry. 
12 
 
13 
In addition, the Executive Director shall have the following powers and 
14 
functions: 
15 
a) Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center;  
16 
b) Provide technical and administrative support to the Council;  
17 
c) Assist the Council in the performance of its tasks; and 
18 
d) Perform such other functions, duties and responsibilities as may be 
19 
necessary to implement this Act. 
20 
 
21 
SEC. 8. Support to the Program by Local Government Units. − Local 
22 
government units (LGUs) shall participate in the implementation of the PBIDP.  
23 
Each LGU shall establish a Bamboo Industry Development Council and shall 
24 
endeavor to capacitate agricultural workers   and encourage entrepreneurs to 
25 
acquire the needed competencies in harvesting and post-harvesting operations.  
26 
 
27 
 
Provincial governments shall formulate and implement their respective 
28 
bamboo industry development programs within two (2) years from the enactment 
29 
of this law. 
30 
 
31 
SEC. 9. Incentives for bamboo in plantation development. The 
32 
following incentives shall be provided to investors in bamboo plantation 
33 
development: 
34 
 
35 
a) Exemption from the payment of rent for the use of government lands 
36 
for commercial bamboo plantation for the first five (5) years of operation 
37 
reckoned from the date of  the first harvest of the plantation; 
38 
b) Exemption of private plantations from the requirements to secure a 
39 
cutting permit for the harvesting of bamboo and a transport permit for 
40 
as long as the plantation is registered with the Community 
41 
Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the DENR: 
42 
Provided, that the plantation owner shall inform the CENRO about the 
43 
date of harvest, and the estimated volume that of the harvest. Inventory 
44 
of the plantation prior to harvest shall not be required. All CENROs 
45 
shall approve and enter into a registry, the names of private bamboo 
46 
plantation investors; 
47 
c) Exemption from the payment of forest charges and other fees for taxes 
48 
that local government units may impose; 
49 
d) No inspection of harvested bamboo at check points; 
50 
e) Access to development loans from public financial institutions for 
51 
plantation developers;  
52 
f) Insurance coverage of plantations and plantation development 
53 
equipment by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC); 
54 


 
 
 
 
6
g) Tax free importation of plantation development equipment, including 
1 
tree nursery facilities, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise 
2 
known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA); 
3 
h) Expenses incurred for plantation operations shall be allowed as 
4 
deductible expenses for income tax purposes, subject to the provisions 
5 
of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended: Provided, 
6 
that the deduction shall only apply to the Taxable Period when the 
7 
expenses were incurred; 
8 
i) Expenses incurred in the development and operation of a bamboo 
9 
plantation prior to the commercial harvest shall be regarded as 
10 
ordinary and necessary expenses or as capital expenditure; 
11 
j) Prioritized access for plantation developers to credit assistance from 
12 
government-owned, controlled and/or supported financial institutions; 
13 
k) Acceptance of plantation as collateral for loans in government owned 
14 
or controlled banks; 
15 
l) For tenured developer, entitlement to fair compensation upon the 
16 
premature termination of the agreement at no fault of the holder: 
17 
Provided , that all depreciable permanent and semi-permanent 
18 
improvements such as roads, buildings, and nurseries including the 
19 
planted and standing trees and other forest crops introduced and 
20 
retained in the area, shall be properly evaluated: Provided further, that  
21 
the amount of  compensation shall be mutually agreed upon by both 
22 
the Department and the tenure-holder: Provided finally, that  in case of 
23 
disagreement between them, the matter shall be submitted to 
24 
arbitration by a mutually acceptable and impartial third party 
25 
adjudicator; 
26 
m) Exportation of bamboo culms from plantation without restrictions in 
27 
volume; 
28 
n) Tax free importation of processing equipment by processors engaged in 
29 
bamboo industry, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10863, otherwise 
30 
known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA); and  
31 
o) Inclusion in the annual investment program of the National Economic 
32 
Development Authority of industrial bamboo plantations in forest lands 
33 
and priority access to funds from external and internal sources. 
34 
 
35 
SEC. 10.  Appropriations. − The funds necessary to carry out the initial 
36 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s budget of 
37 
the DTI. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the continued 
38 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General 
39 
Appropriations Act. 
40 
 
41 
SEC. 11.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. − Within sixty (60) days 
42 
after the effectivity of this Act, the DTI-PBIDC shall, in coordination with the 
43 
DENR, and DOST      promulgate the rules and regulations to implement this 
44 
Act.   
45 
 
46 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. − If any provision of this Act or part hereof 
47 
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such 
48 
declaration shall remain in full force and effect.  
49 
 
50 
SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. − All laws, executive and administrative 
51 
orders, rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
52 
amended accordingly. 
53 
 
54 


 
 
 
 
7
SEC. 14. Effectivity. − This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
1 
publication in   the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
2 
 
Approved,