TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S. No.
)
SENATE
882
f., ' ; - V; 
:in rr
oli!ii- i' 1
25 AUG-4 P6:11
RtCLlVED BY;
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
According to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural 
Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), bamboo is one of the most 
economically significant non-timber forest products in the world. Bamboo is also one 
of the fastest growing plants in the world and has many uses from food to products 
for construction, and furniture. Further, according to United Nations Conference on 
Trade and Development (UNCTAD), building with bamboo could help governments 
to provide affordable housing in developing countries since bamboo is cheaper 
compared to timber, steel, and concrete, and much more widely available- 
something worth considering to help address the housing shortage in the country. 
Apart from its economic benefits, bamboo is also significant ecologically due to its 
capacity to mitigate flood and soil erosion.
In the Philippines, bamboo has several uses from house and kitchen utensils, 
farm implements, furniture and handicrafts, raw material for construction, banana 
props, fish pens, banca outriggers and fuel. It has been manufactured into charcoal


and charcoal briquettes. It has also been used for pulp and paper, textiles and 
clothing, and renewable energy resource in the form of chips and pellets.1
According to an UNCTAD study, the Philippines was included in the top 10 
bamboo exporters in 2020. In the same year, the Phiiippines was the largest 
exporter of wood made of bamboo used in builders' joinery and carpentry products. 
It accounted for almost 70% of global exports and a trade value of USD113.5million. 
The main destination of these exports was Japan, which accounted for almost all of 
the exports from the Philippines. Other countries included the United States, India 
and others in Europe.2
In spite of its economic and ecological benefits, the bamboo industry remains 
plagued with a number of issues. According to the PCAARRD, these include the 
following:
• 
Lack of reliable and updated data on bamboo supply and location;
• 
Lack of knowledge on potential uses of bamboo;
• 
Absence of consolidated policies on bamboo harvesting, transportation, 
and exportation;
• 
Weak transfer of technology strategies; and
• 
Lack of a fully developed bamboo industry value chain.
The "Kawayan Act' seeks to promote the development of the Philippine 
bamboo industry by reconstituting the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development 
Council, which was created under Executive Order No. 879 series of 2010, and 
mandating it to formulate the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap. 
The Roadmap shall include programs and projects that will make the Philippine 
bamboo industry competitive in local and global markets and allow for the creation 
of local employment and the establishment of community enterprises.
1 Board of Investments - Department of Trade and Industry. The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development 
Roadmap, 2016.
2 Commodities at a elance: Special issue on bamboo


In view of the foregoing circumstances, immediate passage of this bill is 
earnestly sought.
NGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
i.0ffuT fit i\. 
.
25 AUG-4 P6:11
SENATE
S. No. 882
Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN THE 
PHILIPPINES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Kawayan Act'.
2 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to foster a self-
3 
reliant and independent economy that supports indigenous, scientific and
4 
technological capabilities, and skills improvement.
5 
The State aims to promote and support industries that generate employment
6 
especially in the rural areas, reduce poverty, foster a sustainable environment,
7 
integrate cultural development, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
8 
Recognizing the strategic importance of the bamboo as a sturdy, versatile,
9 
and renewable material that can be a sustainable source of livelihood and catalyst
10 
for agricultural productivity, the State shall ensure the integrated and continuous
11 
development of the Philippine bamboo industry through policies and programs that
12 
will encourage bamboo planting, accelerate the development of bamboo-based
13 
products and designs, and promote Philippine bamboo products in the domestic and
14 
international markets. Towards this end, it shall establish a roadmap for sustainable
15 
production, utilization, propagation, marketing, and promotion of bamboo as
16 
furniture, food, construction and design material, and other uses and provide
17 
substantial and attractive incentives to help stimulate the bamboo industry.
18 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:


1 
a) Bamboo refers to tropical or semi-tropical fast-growing grass usually
2 
having hollow culms and lignocellulose matrix;
3 
b) Bamboo Industry refers to the industry associated with the planting and
4 
cultivation of bamboo for sustainable raw materials and bamboo-based
5 
products, including, but not limited to handicrafts, bamboo shoots,
6 
bamboo utilized for construction purposes, bamboo for industrial
7 
production involving mechanized processing of larger volumes of culms,
8 
such as for flowing, laminated furniture, chopsticks, mat boards, charcoal,
9 
paper and pulp, biomass, pellets, textiles, and unprocessed bamboo culms
10 
utilized in applications such as scaffolding and traditional construction;
11 
c) Bamboo Processing refers to the process of conversion of bamboo for
12 
various products and applications; and
13 
d) Bamboo Natural Stands refer to sporadically distributed and existing
14 
clumps with different bamboo species occurring in a given area.
15 
Sec. 4. The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap (PBIDR).-
16 
There shall be a Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap, which sets
17 
forth a comprehensive national strategy for the Philippine bamboo industry and
18 
provides specific programs and projects, including the timeline for the propagation,
19 
development and managements, processing, utilization, business development, and
20 
commercialization of the Philippine bamboo and bamboo products. It shall be a five-
21 
year roadmap subject to regular review and updating and shall be supported by an
22 
annual work and financial plan for the effective implementation of the law. The
23 
roadmap shall be guided by the following objectives, among others:
24 
a) To make available a sufficient supply of bamboo raw materials for various
25 
industries and end products;
26 
b) To establish vibrant bamboo enterprises for domestic and international
27 
markets;
28 
c) To establish bamboo-based communities with elevated income and
29 
freedom from poverty;
30 
d) To establish a policy environment supportive to the development of the
31 
bamboo industry;


1 
e) To use bamboo as a medium to help attain the country's desire for sound
2 
environmental sustainability and climate change adaptation and
3 
mitigation;
4 
f) To realize a significant contribution of the bamboo industry to the
5 
Philippine economy and to inclusive growth; and
6 
g) To identify other necessary activities approved by the Council.
7 
Sec. 5. Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council. - The Philippine
8 
Bamboo Industry Development Council, created under Executive Order No. 879,
9 
series of 2010, hereinafter referred to as the Council, is hereby reconstituted and
10 
shall be composed of the following:
11 
a) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as Chairperson;
12 
b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
13 
(DENR);
14 
c) Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science
15 
and Technology (DOST), Department of the Interior and Local
16 
Government (DILG, and the Chairperson of the National Commission on
17 
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), as members; and
18 
d) Three (3) representatives from the private sector and non-governmental
19 
organizations (NGOs) involved in the bamboo industry and agriculture as
20 
members, who shall serve for a term of three (3) years and may be re-
21 
appointed once. The DTI Secretary shall appoint them from a list of at
22 
least six (6) nominees submitted by different organizations and
23 
associations.
24 
The Council shall meet quarterly and may hold special meetings whenever the
25 
need arises to consider urgent matters upon the call of the Chairperson or any of the
26 
Council members: Provided, That each Council member may designate his/her
27 
representatives whose rank shall not be lower than an Assistant Secretary or its
28 
equivalent.
29 
The Council shall be assisted by a Secretariat headed by an Executive
30 
Director. Other member agencies of the Council 
shall provide additional
31 
administrative and technical staff support on secondment or detailed arrangement to
32 
the secretariat upon the determination by the Council of the necessity for such


1 
augmentation. The appointment of officers and employees of the secretariat shall
2 
be in accordance with the civil service laws.
3 
Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. - The Council shall have the
4 
following powers and functions, among others:
5 
a) Formulate and publish the PBIDR, which shall be updated and revised
6 
periodically as may be determined by the Council;
7 
b) Identify specific programs and projects aligned with the PBIDR;
8 
c) Identify the specific roles, and ensure compliance and coordination among
9 
government agencies for the attainment of the goals laid out in the
10 
PBIDR;
11 
d) Lead the creation of, and serve as the host organization to maintain a
12 
national and integrated information system related to bamboo including,
13 
but not limited to, plantations, population, species, workers and
14 
beneficiaries, investors, product demands and supplies, and costs and
15 
benefits for market research, and continuous research and development to
16 
advance sustainable bamboo industry development practices;
17 
e) Identify sources of financing and facilitate credit windows with
18 
government financial institutions to expand bamboo industry
19 
development;
20 
f) Promote the establishment of additional processing facilities that would
21 
accelerate the production and commercialization of bamboo and various
22 
bamboo products in the domestic and international markets and identify
23 
land areas devoted to bamboo plantations;
24 
g) Promote the establishment and creation of bamboo farm tourism camps in
25 
coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT);
26 
h) Implement mechanization of production in the bamboo industry through
27 
the provisions of machinery and equipment;
28 
i) Harmonize and institutionalize fragmented capacity-building, business
29 
mentoring, and entrepreneurship programs, of relevant government
30 
agencies for farmers, farm workers, processors, designers, and other
31 
stakeholders in the bamboo industry;


1 
j) strengthen market access, linkage and promote of Philippine bamboo and
2 
locally-made bamboo-based products through extensive marketing
3 
strategy;
4 
k) Promote the establishment of an agri-insurance program for bamboo
5 
plantations and farmers;
6 
I) Coordinate and partner with the private sector, people's organizations and
7 
NGOs, and state colleges and universities in providing technical assistance
8 
to bamboo farmers and the industry commensurate to the size of the
9 
bamboo plantation or farm;
10 
m) Accept grants, donations, and contributions from local and international
11 
donors, and such similar sources of funds for the implementation of this
12 
Act, subject to the usual budget, accounting and auditing rules and
13 
regulations;
14 
n) Appoint the official representative of the Philippines to international
15 
bamboo organizations;
16 
o) Submit annual reports on the status of the implementation of the roadmap
17 
and the bamboo industry development in the country to the Office of the
18 
President, the Senate of the Philippines, and the House of
19 
Representatives.
20 
p) Recommend to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the
21 
required yearly appropriations for the plan and implementation of the
22 
bamboo industry development programs and ensure the inclusion of
23 
proposals, through program convergence budgeting to avoid duplication of
24 
funding for similar programs, activities and projects by the implementing
25 
agencies; and
26 
q) Promulgate rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers and
27 
functions as may be necessary to carry out effectively the attainment of
28 
the purposes and objectives of this Act.
29 
Sec. 7. Executive Director. - By a vote of a simple majority of all its members,
30 
the Council shall appoint an Executive Director who shall head the secretariat and
31 
serve as the administrative officer of the Council. The appointee must possess
32 
competencies and knowledge in bamboo industry development and shall have a


1 
fixed term of six (6) years and may be reappointed, subject to the approval of the
2 
Council.
3 
With the concurrence of the Council, the Executive Director shall determine
4 
the staffing complement as to the organizational structure, staffing pattern, and
5 
compensation system of the Secretariat.
6 
Sec. 8. Use of Bamboo in Environmental Rehabilitation, Conservation, and
7 
Protection Programs of the National Government - The DENR shall use bamboo as
8 
the planting material for at least twenty-five percent (25%) of its annual
9 
reforestation and rehabilitation programs, especially in provinces and towns that are
10 
engaged in or have the potential to engage in bamboo-based industries, or where
11 
trees are difficult to grow because of poor site quality, susceptibility to erosion or
12 
adverse and steep gradients. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) shall
13 
likewise encourage mining contractors and permit holders to plant bamboo outside
14 
the disturbed areas mining sites, subject to pertinent rules and conditions as
15 
determined by relevant agencies.
16 
Sec. 9. Use of Assistance Funds for Small and Medium Bamboo Enterprises. -
17 
Twenty percent (20%) of DOSTs small and medium enterprises (SMEs) assistance
18 
funds such as the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) and the
19 
Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) venture capital program shall
20 
be allocated to bamboo-based enterprises.
21 
Sec. 10. Promotion of Bamboo Products in Domestic and International
22 
Markets. - The DTI, the DOT, and their attached agencies mandated to promote
23 
domestic products, shall be directed to conduct aggressive marketing and trade
24 
campaigns of bamboo and bamboo products through domestic and international
25 
expositions, fairs and exhibits.
26 
The DTI shall likewise be mandated to scale up domestic investment
27 
promotion by hosting business-marching activities through its existing micro, small
28 
and medium enterprises program, to prioritize the access of its shared services
29 
facilities, and to provide marketing assistance through its One Town One Product
30 
(OTOP) and other shows and concept stores for the bamboo industry.
31 
Sec. 11. Research, Development and Innovation for the Bamboo Industry. -
32 
The DOST, in coordination with other government and private research institutions.


1 
shall conduct research and development on bamboo, innovate to develop more
2 
marketable bamboo-based products for both domestic and international consumers,
3 
and advance sustainable bamboo industry development practices.
4 
Sec. 12. Use of Bamboo in Public Schools and Government Facilities. - As far
5 
as practicable, at least twenty-five percent (25%) of all the annual school desks and
6 
armchairs requirement of all public elementary and secondary schools nationwide
7 
procured by the Department of Education (DepEd) shall be made from bamboo. The
8 
use of bamboo in furniture and fixtures of government facilities shall also be
9 
considered when feasible.
10 
Sec. 13. Incentives. - The following incentives shall be provided:
11 
a) The Board of Investments (BOI) shall classify bamboo farms/plantations,
12 
production or processing thereof, and other bamboo-related activities as
13 
preferred in areas of investments under its Strategic Investments Priority
14 
Plan (SIPP) subject to pertinent rules and regulations;
15 
b) Nursery and plantation owners shall be exempt from the payment of rent
16 
for the use of public lands for commercial bamboo plantation subject to
17 
existing tenurial agreements with concerned government agencies;
18 
c) Bamboo plantation owners in public lands shall be exempt from the
19 
payment of forest charges that may be imposed by the national
20 
government;
21 
d) The produce of bamboo plantations shall be accepted as among the
22 
collaterals for loans in government-owned or controlled banks, subject to
23 
its rules and regulations;
24 
e) Bamboo plantation developers and bamboo processors shall be given
25 
priority to access credit assistance and guarantee schemes being granted
26 
by government-owned, controlled and/or supported financial institutions;
27 
f) Bamboo plantations shall not be required a cutting permit for harvesting
28 
nor shall their produce need a transport permit for transporting: Provided,
29 
That such plantation is registered with 
the Community Environment and
30 
Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the DENR;
31 
g) Bamboo plantations and plantation development equipment shail be
32 
covered by the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC); and


1 
h) For tenured bamboo plantation owners, upon the premature termination
2 
of the tenurial agreement with no fault of the holder, all capital
3 
improvements, depreciable permanent and semi-permanent improvements
4 
such as roads, buildings, nurseries including the planted and standing
5 
bamboo and other intercrops, introduced and retained in the area, shall be
6 
evaluated and the holder shall be entitled to a fair compensation thereof,
7 
the amount of which shall be mutually agreed upon by both the DENR and
8 
the tenure-holder and in case of disagreement between them, by
9 
arbitration through a mutually-acceptable and impartial third party
10 
adjudicator through the DENR.
11 
Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial
12 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations
13 
of the departments / agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be
14 
necessary for the continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
15 
Appropriations Act (GAA).
16 
Sec. 15. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from
17 
the effectivity of this Act, the DTI, in consultation with other concerned government
18 
agencies, the academe, the private sector, and NGOs shall promulgate the necessary
19 
implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
20 
Sec. 16. Separability Clause. - Should any provision herein be declared
21 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected shall remain in full force and
22 
effect.
23 
Sec. 17. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
24 
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
25 
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
26 
Sec. 18. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
27 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of
28 
general circulation.
Approved,