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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 4009

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4™ DISTRICT, BULACAN

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Bamboo stands can help us adapt to climate change, i.e., protect us against extreme
weather events and disasters. Growing bamboo can reduce the sensitivity of ecosystems and
help to rehabilitate degraded lands. With its specially adapted roots that grow along the
surface of the soil, called rhizomes, bamboo spreads slowly outward from the original
planting. These are called clumping bamboos. On the other hand, non-clumping or running
bamboo has long rhizomes that can send up new shoots many feet from the original planting,
These may minimize the impact of gusty winds during storms. Studies indicate that bamboo
can sequester more carbon than comparable fast growing trees. Bamboos likewise show that
it has the potential to grow on degraded land; as such bamboo offers an option to be included
in afforestation or reforestation schemes. This means that it can mitigate climate change.

Rattan is used for various purposes: As food, its inner core and shoot of some of its
species are edible; furniture is the main end product of rattan; as shelter, it is an approved
material for house building in rural areas; and handicraft is the main income of the rattan
industry. Also, the peeled off skin of rattan strands is used for weaving while the “core” of
the rattan can be used for various purposes in furniture making (wicker). It grows best under
some sort of tree cover including secondary forest, fruit orchards, tree plantations or rubber
estates. As a result, rattan planting indirectly protects tree cover, along with forests.

In view of the ill-effects brought about by climate change such as rainwater flooding
and storm surges as well as the need to uplift the economic conditions of the poor, this
proposed bill provides for an Integrated National Bamboo and Rattan Development Program
and identifies specific areas for propagation, breeding, plant nutrition, site species matching
and processing.


This bill was filed during the 16" and 17" Congresses but was not taken up due to
time constraints. This is presently re-filed in this 18 Congress for its consideration.

Support for the enactment of this measure is earnestly requested.

REP. HENRY R. VI ICA


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

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 4009

Introduced by HON. HENRY R. VILLARICA
4™ DISTRICT, BULACAN

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR AN INTEGRATED NATIONAL BAMBOO AND RATTAN
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO AND
RATTAN CENTERS, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION I. Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Integrated National Bamboo-Rattan
Centers and Program Act”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. —It shall be the policy of the State to promote a program
to achieve environmental equilibrium and ecological awareness through the conduct of scientific
and technological studies on the application and utility of bamboo and rattan. This program shall
likewise develop a framework that will facilitate the use of these indigenous products to establish
a self-reliant and independent national economy for the Filipinos.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

(a) Bamboo and Rattan Center refers to the Philippine National Bamboo and Rattan Centers as
indicated under Section 5 of this Act;

(b) Bamboo refers to all members of the tall or shrubby grasses with woody clums under the
Subfamily Bambusoideae of the Family Graminae or Poaceae;

(©) Rattan refers to all members of the climbing palm belonging to Subfamily Calamoideae of
the Family Palmae or Arecaceae;

(4) Small holder farmer refers to a farmer owning or cultivating a farmland of less than or equal
to five (5) hectares;


(©) Semi-commercial production refers to a farmer owning or cultivating a farmland of more
than five (5) hectares;

SEC. 4, The Integrated National Bamboo and Rattan Development Program (INBRDP). -
‘The INBRDP seeks to achieve the following objectives:

(a) Propagation of high quality, genetically superior planting stocks through biotechnology to
reduce losses caused by pests and diseases;

(b) Dispersal or distribution of planting materials to be disposed at nominal amount. This
should benefit the small holder farmers and CARP beneficiaries;

(©) Production or bamboo farming and/or plantation development and management for
backyard and semi-commercial production;

(d) Utilization, processing and marketing including high value product development;

(e) Training and extension, including technology packaging and transfer;

(f) Research and technology;

(g) Socio-economic researches to ensure economic viability and acceptance of technology by
farmers;

(h) Establishment of at least five (5) hectares of bamboo setum and five (5) hectares rattan gene
bank to ensure the preservation of the existing bamboo and rattan genetic materials in the
Philippines and provide option to the farmers.

SEC. 5, Establishing the Bamboo and Rattan Centers. ~ The following centers are
established to specialize the development of technology on propagation, breeding, plant
nutrition, site species matching, and processing of bamboo and rattan raw materials:

(a) Luzon area centers ~ Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC), Municipality of Magalang,
Province of Pampanga; UP Los Bafios (UPLB), Province of Laguna; Tarlac College of
Agriculture (TCA), Municipality of Camiling, Province of Tarlac; Ramon Magsaysay
Technological University (RMTU), Municipality of San Marcelino, Province of Zambales;
and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Ilocos Norte.

(b) Visayas area centers ~ Leyte State University (LSU), Municipality of Baybay, Province of
Leyte; and West Visayas State University (WVSU), Province of Iloilo

(©) Mindanao area centers — Central Mindanao University (CMU), Province of Bukidnon;
Sultan Kudarat Polytechnic State College (SKPSC), Municipality of Tacurong, Sultan
Kudarat; and Westarn Philippine State University (WPSU), Municipality of Aborlan,
Province of Palawan.


SEC. 6. Role of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG) and Farmers’groups. - The Department of Agriculture (DA)
through the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) through the local government units shall implement a bamboo and rattan distribution
and propagation program within their respective areas in accordance with the INBRDP as
provided for under Section 4 of this Act.

Farmers’ associations or cooperatives are encouraged to participate in in the propagation
and distribution of bamboo and rattan as well as disseminate its technology.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to implement the provisions of this Act
shall be charged against the current appropriations of the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thereafter, the funds necessary to fully implement this Act shall be included in the General
Appropriations Acr (GAA) under the budgetary appropriations of the DA and DENR.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall promulgate and issue the necessary
implementing rules and regulations within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. — If for any reason, a provision or part hereof is declared
invalid, the other provisions of this Act not affected thereby shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
contrary or inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,