Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
1* Regular Session
1802

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by: Representative Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

Explanatory Note

‘The demand for bamboo and bamboo products has been rising steadily over the past decade
and it is expected to increase further. This has been partly due to the declining supply of
wood and bamboo has taken its place in various uses such as in construction, manufacture of
furniture and handicrafts and as raw material for pulp and paper. New products have also
been developed from bamboo such as textiles, food and beverage products and as biomass
fuel in the form of charcoal, pellets and chips.

Unfortunately the bamboo industry in the Philippines cannot attain its potential in increasing
exports, providing employment, contributing to economic development and community
livelihood because it is hampered by insufficiency of raw materials. The private sector is not
investing in bamboo plantation development and farmers are not planting new clumps
because of current policies of government towards bamboo in particular and other forest
products in general

Presidential Decree No. 705 otherwise known as the Revised Forestry Code classifies
bamboo as forest product (Section 3 Definition of Terms). The definition does not
specifically mention bamboo but forest growths such as grass. By inference, since bamboo is
a grass it must be included in the coverage of Section 3 of PD No. 705. Furthermore, Section
72 of PD 705 on Charges on Minor Forest Products specifically mentioned bamboo under
this category.

Bamboo has not been given much importance in policy promulgations under the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) unlike rattan for which DAO No. 04
(Revised Regulations Governing Rattan Resources, Jan 10, 1989) was promulgated on the
basis of its harvesting and on the rehabilitation of the resource. Any policy affecting bamboo
is by reason of its being a minor (or non-timber) forest product. Such policies have been
affecting its utilization and development of the resource.


DENR AO No. 07-1994 requires that bamboo harvested in public lands should have a
Certificate of Origin (CO) to be able to be transported outside of the province. For bamboo
harvested from private lands a Certificate of Verification (CV) issued by the Community
Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) is required. Prior to issuance of a CV,
an inventory of the bamboo resources in the private land is conducted by the CENRO even
for only a few culms to be harvested. Often the inventory is delayed because of the absence
of personnel from the CENRO to conduct the inventory. Furthermore, the farmers who need a
CV have to travel to the CENRO which is a distance from their residences causing them to
‘incur expenses they could hardly afford.

According to the bamboo farmers/bamboo buyers while on the road they are often harassed
by agents of goverment who demand that they come across. This situation has been
discouraging bamboo farmers from expanding their existing bamboo plantings thus
aggravating the raw material supply situation of the industry. Most of the current supply of
‘bamboo raw materials is coming from small-hold bamboo farmers.

A law regulating the bamboo is critical in promoting the bamboo industry and improving its
raw material supply situation.

DEOGRACIAS Vi “DV” B. SAVELLAN
Represntativg/4* District llocos Sur



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
1 Regular Session

1802
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Deogracias Victor “DV” B. Savellano

AN ACT CLASSIFYING BAMBOO AS AN UNREGULATED FOREST PRODUCT AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled

SECTION 1. Title.1 — This Act shall be known as the “Bamboo Deregulation Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to promote industries
that utilize local resources for the creation of employment, generation of sustainable
livelihood in rural communities to attain inclusive economic growth, contribute to the
country’s gross domestic product, help mitigate and adapt to climate change and support

sustainable environmental conservation and rehabilitation.

SECTION 3. Objective. — It is the objective of this Act to promote the development of
the Philippine bamboo industry by streamlining policies that constrain its growth, encourage
investors to invest in the establishment of plantations and processing facilities, and provide

sustainable livelihood to communities in rural areas.


SECTION 4. Deregulation of Bamboo. - Bamboo culms, whether planted or grown
naturally in forestlands or in private lands , are hereby deregulated. The harvest and
transport of bamboo culms shall no longer require any permit from any government agency:
Provided, That a certificate of origin from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources ( DENR ) shall be required for bamboo harvested in public lands and forestlands
while a certificate of ownership obtained from the barangay local government shall be
required for bamboos harvested in public lands.

SECTION 5. Naturally Growing Bamboo in Forestlands. - Concessions for the harvest.
of naturally growing bamboo in forestlands outside of tenured areas shall be granted by
the DENR to qualified applicants. Tenure holders of forestlands are authorized to harvest
naturally growing bamboo within their tenured areas: Provided, That bamboo harvesting is

made part of the tenure holder's resource-use or resource management plan.

SECTION 6. Incentives for Plantation Grown Bamboo. - Bamboo plantations, in
forestlands or in private lands shall be granted incentives provided under Presidential
Decree No. 705, revising Presidential Decree No. 389, otherwise known as the “ Forestry
Reform Code of the Philippines”, for industrial tree plantations. They shall also be included
in the Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) of the government.

SECTION 7. Payment of Forest Charges. ~ Naturally grown bamboo harvested from
forestlands shall be assessed with the corresponding fees and charges as provided in
Republic Act No. 7161, entitled “ An Act Incorporating Certain Sections of the National
Internal Revenue Code of 1977, as Amended, to Presidential Decree No. 705, as Amended,
Otherwise Known as the “ Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines’, and Providing
Amendments Thereto by Increasing the Forest Charges on Timber and Other Forest
Products”. Plantation-grown bamboo in forestlands and in private lands shall be free from

forest charges.

SECTION 8. Monitoring Bamboo in Forest and Private Lands. — For Purposes of
monitoring available bamboo resources and to ensure sustainability, the DENR shall devise
a system for the inventory, reporting and survey of areas planted to bamboo in both public


forests and private lands. For this purpose, the DENR shall engage the local government
units as well as the private sector and business organizations to ensure their participation in
the protection and public information campaign on bamboo.

SECTION 9. implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days after the
approval of this Act, the DENR, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the
Department of Finance (DOF) shall formulate the implementing rules and regulations of this
‘Act.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional , the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall

remain valid.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders and other issuances
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,