NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
Senate Bill No.
605
Senate
of ti)c
*22 JUL14 PI 56
RlXEiVt.0 3V;
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
With somewhere between 44,000 to 53,000 hectares of bamboo stand across our 
islands, the bamboo industry is one of the biggest areas of agricultural potential for the 
country. Even now, without a dedicated institution and development plan to guide the 
growth of the industry. Bamboo has somehow managed to weather the storm—like the 
grass itself, the industr/ has proven icself resilient in the face of many challenges. It has 
kept its relevance as one of our most defining cultural signifiers, bringing a uniquely 
Filipino stamp to such things as the humble bahay kubo, or the 200 year-old Bamboo 
Organ of Las Pinas, or the innovative works of celebrated architects and designers like 
Bobby Mahosa or Kenneth Cobonpue. But we cannot let the future of the bamboo plant 
lie entirely on its cultural cachet.
Right now, we are the fifth biggest bamboo industry in the world, but our numbers 
pale in comparison to the billion-dollars bamboo industries of China and Vietnam. This 
industry has so much more potential and there is such a great demand for it in the local 
and international markets, especially in architecture and design, in chemical and medical 
industries, and in the culinary industiy. The growth of the bamboo industry will mark a 
huge win for the nation—economically, culturally, and even environmentally.
Despite the bamboo's importance and potential, statistics on its resources, 
production, and trade in the Philippines remain scarce and inconsistent. The lack of 
reliable and comprehensive data on Philippine bamboo resources and utilization hinders 
its sustainable development, and limits bamboo's potential to contribute to the Philippine 
economy.
To remedy the issues involved in the current implementation of related activities 
and programs, this bill seeks to strengthen the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development 
Council, and create the Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center as the one- 
stop shop for all bamboo industry related activities such as training and education, 
marketing and promotion, and reseai'ch and development.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly soug
JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
^enaie
of lljf n ftary
•22 JUL 14 PI 56
S E N A TE
Senate Bill No.
605
RECEIVED BV. _
Introduced by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri
AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 
PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Bamboo Industry
2 
Development Act of 2022".
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of 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 to conserve, propagate
6 
and promote bamboo to be used as medium for furniture, food, construction materials
7 
and other uses. It shall promote the bamboo industry for poverty reduction, inclusive
8 
growth, environmental conservation and protection, agricultural productivity
9 
enhancement climate change mitigation and adaptation.
10 
Sec. 3. Objectives of this Act - This Act aims to make the Philippine bamboo
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industry competitive in the local and global markets while providing opportunities
12 
for local employment and establishing bamboo-based community enterprises by:
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a) Ensuring that the bamboo industry has sufficient supply of quality raw materials
14 
through the establishment of nurseries and bamboo plantations;
15 
b) Ensuring that the bamboo industry continuously receives from the research and
16 
development sector relevant technologies and new products;
17 
c) Ensuring that the industry receives pertinent and accurate data from the center
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created under Section 8 of this Act, and other relevant sources upon which the
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industry can make business decisions;
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d) Promoting investments in the bamboo industry by providing substantial incentives
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to investors;


1 
e) Providing skilled labor and manpower through continuous relevant capacity
2 
building;
3 
f) Ensuring provision of locally manufactured machines of improved capacity,
4 
efficiency, and quality at competitive costs;
5 
g) Providing access to markets of bamboo products locally and globally through
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aggressive trade promotions;
7 
h) Ensuring sustainable resources in the implementation of the bamboo industry
8 
development program; AND
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i) Ensuring continuing and new material and design research and development to
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advance market access for Philippine bamboo and bamboo products locally and
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internationally.
12 
Sec. 4. The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap. — To be
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able to attain the policy and objectives set forth in this Act, there shall be established a
14 
Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap which shall include but not be limited to
15 
programs and projects for the scientific propagation, processing, utilization, business
16 
development, and commercialization of Philippine bamboo and bamboo products. The
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Plan shall include the following objectives, among others:
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a) Expand the number of bamboo nurseries with quality and disease-free planting
19 
materials;
20 
b) Ensure the propagation, breeding, site species matching and plant nutrition;
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c) Observe sustainable planting, harvesting, and soil and water conservation
22 
practices;
23 
d) Encourage backyard bamboo farming;
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e) Ensure the sustainability and viability of the bamboo industry;
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f) Promote investments in the bamboo development programs;
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g) Advance market access for Philippine bamboo and bamboo products locally and
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internationally;
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h) Extend assistance, both technical and financial for the development, processing,
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commercialization and marketing of various bamboo products;
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i) Require at least twenty (20%) percent of the annual planting materials needed
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in national greening program or reforestation in open, denuded, and degraded
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forest be bamboo;
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j) Use bamboo in the manufacture of at least twenty five percent (25%) of furniture,
34 
as an alternative to wood, in public primary and secondary schools in the country;
35 
k) Make available to the bamboo industry relevant and current research and
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technological information and new product lines;


1 
I) Provide continuous training and capacity building to businesses processing
2 
bamboo into various products; and
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m) Provide preferential treatment to locally manufactured machines and equipment.
4 
Sec 5. Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, — There is
5 
hereby created a Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), herein
6 
referred to as the Council, which shall provide the overall policy and program directions
7 
and coordinate the activities of various agencies and instrumentalities to ensure the
8 
accomplishment, implementation and enhancement of the Roadmap.
9 
The Council shall be administratively attached to the Department of Trade and
10 
Industry (DTI).
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Sec. 6. Powers and Functions of the Council. — The Council shall have the
12 
following powers and functions:
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a) Formulate the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Roadmap;
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b) Identify specific programs and projects in support and in line with the
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Philippine Bamboo Industry/ Development Roadmap;
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c) Promote and encourage the establishment of nurseries, bamboo plantations
17 
and processing facilities that would accelerate the production and
18 
commercialization of bamboo and various bamboo products;
19 
d) Identify sources of financing to expand bamboo industry development;
20 
e) Monitor and evaluate the performance of bamboo industry development
21 
programs and projects;
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f) Coordinate government agencies to carry out and implement bamboo industry
23 
development programs and projects;
24 
g) Coordiiiate with the private sector, people's organizations and non-government
25 
organizations, and the academe to provide assistance on matters pertaining to
26 
bamboo industry development;
27 
h) Promote the commercialization and market access of appropriate, innovative
28 
and viable bamboo industry development technologies and products;
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i) Accept grants, donations and contributions from local and international donors
30 
and such similar sources for the implementation of this Act, subject to the
31 
usual budget, accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
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j) Submit annual reports to the Office of the President, the Senate Committee on
33 
Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and the House of Representatives
34 
Committee on Trade and Industry on the status of bamboo industry
35 
development in the country; and


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Promulgate such rules and regulations and exercise such other powers and
2 
functions as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes and objectives of this
3 
Act.
4 
Sec. 7. Composition. - The Council shall be composed of the following:
5 
a) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the Chairperson;
6 
b) Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);
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c) Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA);
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d) Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
9 
e) Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and
10 
f) Two (2) representatives from the bamboo sector.
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The DTI Secretary may designate the Undersecretary for Regional Operations
12 
Group (DTI-ROG) as his/her alternate and shall have the same powers as his/her principal
13 
and his/her acts shall be considered the acts of his/her principal.
14 
The Council members from the different departments may designate their
15 
respective alternates who shall be at least Assistant Secretary in rank and whose
16 
designation shall be on a permanent capacity and their acts shall be considered the acts
17 
of their principals.
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The Council shall regularly meet quarterly and may hold special meetings
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whenever the need arises to consider urgent matters upon the call of the Chairman or
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any four (4) Council members.
21 
Sec 8. Bamboo Industry Research And Deveiopment Center, — The
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Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center, hereinafter referred to as the
23 
Center, shall be created to serve as the secretariat of the Council, headed by an Executive
24 
Director. The Executive Director, in addition to his/her duties in the Center, shall have
25 
the following powers and functions:
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a) Assist the Council in the performance of its tasks;
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b) Provide technical and administrative support to the Council;
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c) Oversee the day-to-day operations of the Center;
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d) Supervise the implementation of the plan and programs of the Council;
30 
e) Conduct capability-building initiatives for farmers, processors, designers, and
31 
other stakeholders;
32 
f) Conduct research and development in partnership with appropriate
33 
government agencies to advance sustainable bamboo industry development
34 
practices;
35 
g) Submit periodic reports to the Council on the progress and accomplishment of
36 
programs and projects;


1 
h) Coordinate and tap other national government agencies, local government
2 
units, academe, private industry associations, NGOs and civil society
3 
organizations in the implementation of this Act;
4 
i) Perform such other functions, duties and responsibilities as may be necessary
5 
to implement this Act.
6 
Sec. 9. Establishment of Local Bamboo Industry Development Council. -
1 Provinces, cities and municipalities, when applicable, shall establish their respective local
8 
Bamboo Industry Development Council. Local government units shall conduct a survey
9 
of existing bamboo clumps and bamboo processing enterprises in their respective
10 
localities.
11 
Sec. 10, Provision of Incentives to Investors in Plantation Development
12 
and Bamboo Processing Factories. — The following incentives shall be provided to
13 
investors in plantation development and bamboo processing factories:
14 
a) Commercial production of bamboo, production of seedlings, establishment of
15 
nurseries, and processing of bamboo-based products may qualify for incentives
16 
under the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, subject the criteria set
17 
by the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, the Board of Investments (BOI), or the
18 
appropriate investment promotion agency, as the case may be;
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b) Plantation shall be accepted as among the collateral for loans in government-
20 
owned or controlled banks;
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c) The plantation developer and bamboo processors shall be given priority to access
22 
credit assistance and guarantee schemes being granted by government-owned,
23 
controlled and/ or -supported financial institutions;
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d) Bamboo plantations shall not require a cutting permit for harvesting nor shall it
25 
need a transport permit. Provided/ That such plantation is registered with the
26 
Community Environment and Natural Resources office (CENRO) of the DENR.
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Sec. 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
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this Act shall be sourced from the unexpended contingency fund of the Office of the
29 
President, and the existing budget for bamboo industry development and research under
30 
the DTI and DENR. Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary shall be included in
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the annual General Appropriations Act.
32 
Sec. 12. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from
33 
the effectivity of this Act, the DTI, in consultation with other concerned government
34 
agencies, the academe, the private sector, and non-government organizations, shall
35 
promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective
36 
implementation of this Act.


1 
Sec. 13. Separabitity Clause, - Should any provision herein be declared
2 
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity of the other provisions of this Act.
3 
Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules, and regulations
4 
or other issuances or parts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
5 
or modified accordingly.
6 
Sec. 15. Effectivity, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its full
7 
publication in the Official Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the
8 
Philippines.
Approved,