Bamboo industry stakeholders asked the government to certify as urgent the proposed Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Act or House Bill 9576 to raise the country’s competitive edge in the natural bamboo market in transport, construction, furniture and fabric sectors.
“House Bill 9576 should be approved under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos. It will substantially help advance our industrial development. We already have the clumps in our inventory. We just need the support for production, training, processing,” said private sector lead for the bamboo industry Deogracias Victor Savellano.
The House of Representatives approved approved the bill on final reading in August 2021. It will be refiled by Bohol Representative Edgardo Chatto, for endorsement in the Senate.
Savellano leads private sector advocates of bamboo in raising the awareness on the plant’s multi-functional abilities as a nature-friendly, climate-smart industrial material through the 5K (Kawayan: Kalikasan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran, Kinabukasan) Foundation Inc.
The bill which envisions to seize part of a global market placed in 2010 at $8 billion aims institutionalize the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council.