RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PHILIPPINE BAMBOO INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP WITH THE END VIEW OF THE ALIGNMENT OF THE INDUSTRY WITH THE TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANS OF THE GOVERNMENT

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 879 which was issued in 2010 created the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBDIC). PBDlC is mandated to provide the over-all policy and program directions for all stakeholders. Further, Executive Order No. 879 directed the use of bamboo for at least 25 percent of the desk and other bamboo furniture requirements of public elementary and secondary schools and prioritizing the use of bamboo in furniture fixtures and other construction requirements of government facilities;

WHEREAS, as of 2010, the Philippines is the 5th largest bamboo exporter in the world. From 2012-2014, there has been P306.3 million investments generated in the Philippine Bamboo Industry with P261.8 million sales and 13,103 jobs generated. There is an increasing global demand for bamboo and the local agricultural industry should take advantage of it. The local market demand for bamboo products is estimated at P11 billion. The current estimated global market demand is US$7 billion, and it is expected to rise to US$15-20 billion in 2017;

WHEREAS, the country’s bamboo-based furniture industry has a growth rate of 15% per year, with export revenues amounting to US$3.2 million per year. The bamboo-based handicraft industry has a growth rate of 7% with export revenues of up to US$8 billion per year. Despite of this, the Philippine Bamboo Foundation reported that up to 52,000 hectares of land in the country is planted with bamboo but this is not enough to meet market demand.

WHEREAS, bamboos grow rapidly and reach maturity in 3-5 years making it a viable alternative to hardwood and traditional timber when it comes to the furniture industry. The return on investment on bamboo is also a lost faster since it can be frequently harvested, making it an attractive and sustainable community project even for small farmers. It has a huge income potential and it can be utilized to improve the lives of people in the countryside;

WHEREAS, the government has committed to promote industrialization based on agricultural development and agrarian reform through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. Moreover, through the issuance of Executive Order No. 879, the government has to reforest at least 500,000 hectares with bamboo as part of the 1 million hectares of designated areas as its contribution to the ASEAN commitment of 20 million hectares of new forest by 2020 as part of its initiatives to improve the environment;

WHEREAS, the main challenge is to make supply sufficient for its continuous and growing demand. There has not been any reliable inventory of available erect bamboos nationwide. Accordingly, there is a need for proper and timely coordination among relevant government agencies, NGOs, academe and business sector to determine a concrete industry roadmap;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, to direct the appropriate Senate Committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the Philippine Bamboo Industry Roadmap with the end view of the alignment of the industry with the trade and environmental plans of the government.

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