EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
' iC fi'- of t;:*"
S E N A T E
*19 JUL 16 All :33
Senate Bill. No.
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN  THE 
PHILIPPINES, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT CENTER (BIRDC), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines' vast flora includes one hundred species of bamboo, with twenty- 
one being native and fifteen being endemic in the country. The 2008 Bamboo Inventory 
Report states that there are 44,403 hectares of bamboo stands in the country. As such, 
bamboo has been interwoven into the Philippine culture with manifestations taking a 
multitude of forms, from modest chopsticks to well-executed architectural gems, and 
even a driving force in the Philippine economy as it generates exports of up to 
US$54,000,000.00.
Aside from the great potential of bamboo as a top export product, its 
environmental benefits cannot also be discounted. 
Bamboo prevents soil erosion, 
especially in our riverbanks, and bamboo is also a good carbon capture as it absorbs 
carbon dioxide or monoxide in the air.
At present, there is no institution dedicated to oversee the development of the 
Philippine bamboo industry and there is much left to be accomplished in terms of research 
and development programs on bamboo, infusion of new technologies in processing and 
product development, and management of bamboo raw materials. The size and 
performance of the industry is difficult to assess due to the insufficient amount of data 
and information with regard to the amount of available raw materials, number of bamboo- 
based enterprises, demand for bamboo culms, employment in the industry, and the 
contribution of the bamboo industry to the Gross Domestic Product.
To be able to make bamboo and bamboo products as one of the country's main 
export commodities, this bill proposes 
to create the Philippine Bamboo Industry
Development Roadmap which shall include programs and projects for the scientific
propagation, 
development 
and 
management, 
processing, 
utilization, 
business 
development, and commercialization of bamboo and bamboo products; and the Philippine 
Bamboo Industry Development Council 
to provide the overall policy and program
directions and coordinate the activities 
of various government agencies and other
stakeholders.


I sincerely believe that with full government support and attention, the Philippine 
bamboo industry will grow to greater heights, appropriate for the tallest grass on earth, 
and only then we can truly say that bamboo is the grass of hope.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
IGUEL F. ZUBIRI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No.
r n 4
'vpitu - of n r 
•r'
'19 JUL 16 All 33
rti:CE:u L n r.
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT IN  THE 
PHILIPPINES, CREATING THE BAMBOO INDUSTRY RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT CENTER (BIRDC), APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled.
1 
SECTION 1. Title. -  This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Bamboo Industry
2 
Development Act of 2019."
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  The State shall provide for a self-reliant and
4 
independent economy to its people. It shall support indigenous, scientific and
5 
technological capabilities, and skills. It shall establish a program for a sustainable
6 
utilization, propagation and promotion of bamboo as furniture, food, construction and
7 
design materials, food and other uses. It shall promote the bamboo industry for poverty
8 
reduction, inclusive growth, environmental conservation and protection, agricultural
9 
productivity enhancement and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
10 
SEC. 3. Definition o f Terms. -  As used in this Act:
11 
a) Bamboo refers to a plant belonging to the subfamily Bambusoideae of grass family
12 
Gramineae (Poaceae) whose culms (stems) are woody;
13 
b) Bamboo stand - for plantation, an aggregate of clumps occupying a specific area
14 
and sufficiently uniform in composition (species), age, spacing, and condition as
15 
to be distinguished from the natural and or existing bamboo stands (with unknown


1 
clump age). The latter stands have irregular spacing and species composition not
2 
necessarily uniform and the clumps are randomly and widely distributed;
3 
c) Bamboo Industry - a sector with very high potential contribution in the socio-
4 
economic development and environmental protection of the country. The sector
5 
may still be classified as essentially agricultural considering that majority of its
6 
market and supply is essentially for agricultural requirements such as fish pens,
7 
banana props and other low value applications like scaffoldings, and fences;
8 
d) Bamboo Backyard Farming - those whose plantation and operations are basically
9 
in the house backyard, with the household members as workers. The majority of
10 
bamboo processing enterprises in the Philippines belong to this category; and
11 
e) Bamboo Processing - conversion of bamboo poles for various products and
12 
applications including walls, panels, trusses, handicraft, and novelty products
13 
(furniture, handicraft, and decors) focused on the possible use of bamboo as
14 
substitutes for wood for various applications 
(plywood, composites, pulp and
15 
paper, bamboo arts, and other architectural applications).
16 
SEC. 4. Objectives o f This Act. 
-T h is Act aims to make the Philippine bamboo
17 
industry competitive 
in 
the 
local 
and 
international markets 
while 
providing
18 
opportunities 
for 
local employment and 
establishing 
bamboo-based community
19 
enterprises by:
20 
a) Ensuring that the bamboo industry has sufficient supply of quality raw materials
21 
through the establishment and management of bamboo nurseries and plantations;
22 
b ) Ensuring that the bamboo industry continuously receives from the research and
23 
development sector relevant technologies and new products;
24 
c) Ensuring that the industry receives pertinent and accurate data from the Center
25 
created under Sec. 9 of this Act, and other relevant sources upon which the
26 
industry can make business decisions;


1 
d) Promoting investments in the bamboo industry by providing substantial and
2 
attractive incentives to investors;
3 
e) Providing skilled labor and manpower through continuous relevant capacity
4 
building;
5 
f) Ensuring provision of locally manufactured machines of improved capacity,
6 
efficiency, and quality at competitive costs;
7 
g) Ensuring continuing and new material and design research and development to
8 
advance market access for Philippine bamboo and bamboo products locally and
9 
internationally;
10 
h) Providing access to markets of bamboo products locally and internationally through
11 
aggressive trade promotions; and
12 
i) Ensuring sustainable resources in the implementation of the bamboo industry
13 
development program.
14 
SEC. 5. 
The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap
15 
(PBIDR). -  To be able to attain the policy and objectives set forth in this Act, there shall
16 
be established a Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap, hereinafter referred
17 
to as the Roadmap, which shall include but not be limited to programs and projects for
18 
the scientific propagation, development and management, processing, utilization,
19 
business development, and commercialization of Philippine bamboo and bamboo
20 
products. The Roadmap shall include the following objectives, among others:
21 
a) Expand the number of bamboo nurseries with quality planting materials;
22 
b) Ensure the propagation, breeding, site species matching and plant nutrition;
23 
c) Observe sustainable planting, management and harvesting, and soil and water
24 
conservation practices;
25 
d) Encourage bamboo backyard farming;
26 
e) Ensure the sustainability and viability of the bamboo industry;
27 
f) Promote investments in the bamboo industry development programs;


1 
g) Advance market access for Philippine bamboo and bamboo products locally and
2 
internationally;
3 
h) Extend technical and financial assistance for the development, processing,
4 
commercialization and marketing of various bamboo products;
5 
i) Require bamboo to be at least twenty percent (20%) of the annual planting
6 
materials needed in the national greening program or in reforestation of open,
7 
denuded, and degraded forest lands;
8 
j)  Use bamboo in the manufacture of at least twenty five percent (25%) of desks
9 
and chairs, as an alternative to wood, in public primary and secondary schools in
10 
the country;
11 
k) Make available to the bamboo industry relevant and current research and
12 
technological information and new product lines;
13 
I) Provide continuous training and capacity building in the bamboo industry
14 
development; and
15 
m) Provide technical and financial assistance in the local design and fabrication of high
16 
capacity processing equipment and machineries for the bamboo industry.
17 
SEC. 6. Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council. — There is
18 
hereby created a Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), herein
19 
referred to as the Council, which shall provide the overall policy and program directions
20 
and coordinate the activities of various agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the
21 
implementation, accomplishment, and periodic review and enhancement of the Roadmap.
22 
The Council shall be administratively attached to the Department of Trade and
23 
Industry (DTI).
24 
SEC. 7. Powers and Functions o f the Council. — The Council shall have the
25 
following powers and functions:
26 
a) Formulate the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap;


1 
b ) Identify specific programs and projects in support and in line with the Philippine
2 
Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap;
3 
c) Identify sources of financing to expand bamboo industry development;
4 
d) Submit annual reports to the Office of the President, the Senate Committee on
5 
Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and the House of Representatives
6 
Committee on Trade and Industry on the status of the implementation of the
7 
Roadmap and the bamboo industry development in the country; and
8 
e) Promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers and
9 
functions as may be necessary to carry out effectively the attainment of the
10 
purposes and objectives of this Act.
11 
SEC. 8. Composition. -  The Council shall be composed of the following:
12 
a) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the Chairperson;
13 
b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
14 
c) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
15 
d) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
16 
e) Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
17 
f) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG);
18 
g) Three (3) representatives from state universities and colleges, one each from the
19 
island group of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao;
20 
h) One (1) representative each from bamboo farmers, bamboo manufacturers, and
21 
bamboo processors associations; and
22 
i) One (1) representative from non-government organization promoting bamboo.
23 
The DTI Secretary may designate the Undersecretary for Regional Operations
24 
Group (DTI-ROG) as his/her alternate and shall have the same powers as his/her principal
25 
and his/her acts shall be considered the acts of his/her principal.
26 
The Council members from the different Departments may designate their
27 
respective alternates who shall be at least Assistant Secretary in rank and whose


1 
designation shall be on a permanent capacity and their acts shall be considered the acts
2 
of their principals.
3 
The representatives from the state universities and colleges, private industry
4 
associations, bamboo farmers/producers/processors association, and non-government
5 
organizations shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines from
6 
the list of nominees submitted by the DTI Secretary. The DTI Secretary shall choose the
7 
nominees from the respective lists submitted by the different organizations and
8 
associations.
9 
The representatives must be citizens and residents of the Philippines and must be
10 
knowledgeable in bamboo industry development and committed to the policies and
11 
programs provided under this Act. They shall serve for a term of three (3) years, and
12 
may be reappointed once.
13 
The Council shall meet quarterly and may hold special meetings whenever the
14 
need arises to consider urgent matters upon the call of the Chairman or any seven (7)
15 
Council members.
16 
SEC. 9 Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center (BIRDC). -
17 
The Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center, hereinafter referred to as the
18 
Center, shall be created to serve as the secretariat of the Council to be headed by an
19 
executive director. The Center shall consist of divisions for the following purposes:
20 
research and development; trade promotion and education; networking and linkages;
21 
internal administration; and such other purposes as necessary. The composition of the
22 
divisions shall be prepared by the executive director and approved by the Council.
23 
The organizational structure, staffing pattern and compensation schedule of the
24 
Center shall be drawn up in accordance with existing laws, rules and regulations. Other
25 
member agencies of the Council shall provide additional administrative and technical staff
26 
support upon the determination of the necessity by the Council.
27 
The Center shall have the following powers and functions:


1 
a) Promote and encourage the establishment and management of bamboo nurseries,
2 
plantations and processing facilities that would accelerate the production and
3 
commercialization of bamboo and various bamboo products;
4 
b) Promote the commercialization and market access of appropriate, innovative and
5 
viable bamboo industry development technologies and products;
6 
c) Monitor and evaluate the performance of bamboo industry development programs
7 
and projects;
8 
d) Coordinate and partner with other government agencies in the implementation of
9 
bamboo industry development programs and projects;
10 
e) Coordinate and partner with the private sector, people's organizations and non-
11 
governmental organizations, and the academe in providing assistance on matters
12 
pertaining to bamboo industry development;
13 
f) Accept grants, donations and contributions from local and international donors and
14 
such similar sources of funds for the implementation of this Act, subject to the
15 
usual budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations;
16 
g) Conduct, in cooperation or partnership with appropriate government agencies, a
17 
periodic review of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap;
18 
h) Conduct capability-building initiatives for farmers, processors, designers, and other
19 
stakeholders in the bamboo industry;
20 
i) Conduct research and development in partnership with appropriate government
21 
agencies to advance sustainable bamboo industry development practices;
22 
j) Supervise the implementation of the plans and programs of the Council;
23 
k) Manage and administer the projects identified by the Council under Section 7 (d)
24 
of this Act; and
25 
I) Submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress and accomplishment of
26 
programs and projects.


1 
SEC. 10. The Executive Director o f the Center. The Executive Director shall
2 
be appointed on a permanent capacity by the President of the Republic Philippines from
3 
the list of nominees submitted by the DTI Secretary. 
He/she shall be a citizen and
4 
resident of the Philippines and must possess executive and management experience of
5 
at least three (3) years and with considerable knowledge in bamboo industry
6 
development.
7 
The Executive Director, in addition to his/her duties in the Center, shall have the
8 
following powers and functions:
9 
a) Assist the Council in the performance of its tasks;
10 
b) Provide technical and administrative support to the Council;
11 
c) Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center; and
12 
d) Perform such other functions, duties and responsibilities as may be necessary to
13 
implement this Act.
14 
SEC. 11. Estabiishment o f Local Bamboo Industry Development Councils
15 
-  Regions, provinces, cities and municipalities, when applicable, shall establish their
16 
respective local Bamboo Industry Development Councils. Local government units shall
17 
regularly conduct a survey of existing bamboo stands, nurseries and plantations and
18 
bamboo enterprises in their respective localities.
19 
SEC. 12. Provision o f Incentives to Investors in Nursery and Plantation
20 
Development and Bamboo Enterprises. -  The following incentives shall be provided
21 
to investors in plantation development and bamboo processing factories:
22 
a) The Board of Investments (BOI) shall classify bamboo nurseries and plantations
23 
as pioneer and bamboo processing as preferred areas of investment under its
24 
Investment Priorities Plan (IPP) subject to pertinent rules and regulations;
25 
b) Nursery and plantation owners shall be exempt from the payment of rent for the
26 
use of public lands for commercial bamboo plantation for the first 10-years or
8


1 
when the plantation owner starts to harvest his/her nursery/plantation subject to
2 
existing tenurial agreement with concerned government agencies.
3 
c) Plantation owners in public lands shall be exempt from the payment of forest
4 
charges imposed by national government and other fees or taxes imposed by local
5 
government units;
6 
d) Plantation owners, including nursery facilities, bamboo processing, and other
7 
related businesses shall be exempt from the payment of import duties for imported
8 
machines and equipment subject to pertinent rules and regulations;
9 
e) Expenses incurred shall be allowed as deductible expenses for income tax
10 
purposes, subject to the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997,
11 
as amended. Provided, that the deduction shall only apply to the taxable period,
12 
when expenses were incurred;
13 
f) Expenses incurred in the development and operation of a bamboo plantation prior
14 
to the commercial harvest shall be regarded as ordinary and necessary expenses
15 
or as capital expenditures for purposes of tax treatment;
16 
g) Bamboo plantations shall be accepted as among the collateral for loans in
17 
government-owned or controlled banks;
18 
h ) The bamboo plantation developer and bamboo processors shall be given priority
19 
to access credit assistance and guarantee schemes being granted by government-
20 
owned, controlled and/ or -supported financial institutions;
21 
i) Bamboo plantations shall not require a cutting permit for harvesting nor shall it
22 
need a transport permit. Provided, that such plantation is registered with the
23 
Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department
24 
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
25 
j) Bamboo plantations and plantation development equipment shall be covered by
26 
the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation;


1 
k) For tenured developer, upon the premature termination of the tenurial agreement
2 
at no fault of the holder, all capital improvements, depreciable permanent and
3 
semi-permanent improvements such as roads, buildings, nurseries including the
4 
planted and standing bamboo and other intercrops, introduced and to be retained
5 
in the area, shall be evaluated and the holder shall be entitled to a fair
6 
compensation thereof, the amount of which shall be mutually agreed upon by both
7 
the DENR and the tenure-holder and in case of disagreement between them, by
8 
arbitration through a mutually acceptable and impartial third party adjudicator
9 
through the DENR; and
10 
I) The export of bamboo poles shall be regulated by the Council while other bamboo
11 
products, may be exported without restrictions in volume .
12 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. 
- The sum of One Hundred 
Million Pesos
13 
(PHP100,000,000.00) to be sourced from the unexpended contingency fund of the Office
14 
of the President and the existing budget for bamboo industry development under the DTI
15 
is hereby appropriated for the initial budgetary requirements of the Center. Thereafter,
16 
such amount as may be necessary for the continuous operation of the Center shall be
17 
included in the annual GAA. The budgetary requirements of cooperating agencies shall
18 
be incorporated in their respective annual budgets.
19 
Sec. 14. Im plem enting Rules and Regulations. -  Within six (6) months from
20 
the effectivity of this Act, the DTI, in consultation with other concerned government
21 
agencies, the academe, the private sector, and non-government organizations, shall
22 
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective
23 
implementation of this Act.
24 
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. -  If any provision of this Act shall be declared
25 
invalid or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions
26 
of this Act.
10


1 
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
2 
or other issuances which are incompatible or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
3 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
4 
Sec. 17. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its full
5 
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the
6 
Philippines.
Approved,
11