It would be a great injustice to continue to relegate bamboo as a mere part of the humble bahay kubo and ignore its outstanding qualities for other more important and diverse uses. A top 10 list would be too limiting to list down all of bamboo’s uses as it can be used beyond construction, proving its worth in sectors such as food, fabrics, paper, gardening, and more. Most of all, bamboo possesses remarkable environmental qualities, acting as a substantial “carbon sink,” and contributing to soil improvement and cleaner air.
With all these beneficial characteristics, why is bamboo still relegated to the backburner and not bannered as a major economic booster? We will not know what bad decisions were made on behalf of bamboo in the past, but this will not be the case moving forward.
The House of Representatives early this week gave its final approval on House Bill (HB) No. 7941, or the “Act Promoting the Development of the Bamboo Industry by Strengthening the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, etc.” With an overwhelming number of votes from 282 legislators, the bamboo industry can finally “feel” that it will be given the serious governmental support and utmost attention it needs.
“There is a lot of potential in the local bamboo industry. Currently, we are the fifth largest bamboo exporter in the world,” said House Speaker Martin Romualdez shortly after the bill was approved on third and final reading. “With smart planning and malasakit, especially to our bamboo planters, the Philippine bamboo industry could be a behemoth a few years down the road.”
According to the bill’s explanatory note, the State shall “recognize the strategic importance of the bamboo as a sturdy, versatile, and replenishable material that can be a sustainable source of livelihood and catalyst for agricultural productivity.”
The State shall likewise “ensure the integrated and continuous development of the Philippine bamboo industry through policies and programs that encourage the planting of bamboo, accelerate the development of bamboo-based products and designs, and promote Philippine bamboo products in international markets.”
Through the measure, a program for a sustainable utilization, propagation and promotion of bamboo as furniture, food, construction and design material, and other uses shall be established.
The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council shall be tasked to create Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program, which shall include plans of actions and projects for the scientific propagation, development and management, processing, utilization, business development, and commercialization of Philippine bamboo and bamboo products, through the cooperation of all stakeholders of the industry.
The hope for this is to make the local bamboo industry competitive in the local and global markets, and provide employment and enterprise opportunities for Filipinos. Part of the bill’s provision is the creation of the Bamboo Industry Research and Development Center, which will serve as the secretariat of the council.
The approval of this bill in the House should also prod the Senate to fasttrack the approval of their consolidated version of the bill. In fact, bamboo industry stakeholders have already appealed to the President to certify this bill as “urgent” and a “priority.”
It is quite concerning that it is only now that our government is institutionalizing its support, assistance, and incentives to the bamboo industry, its workers and advocates. Nevertheless, it is a welcome move as it’s better late than never. Who knows? Bamboo may become the “miracle” needed to push our economy up as these times call for a more sustainable, resilient, and versatile material.