Iloilo is positioning itself to become the bamboo capital of Southeast Asia by 2030, through an initiative led by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF).
The plan focuses on engineered bamboo, a sustainable, high-value material that could make the province a hub for green construction and export-ready products. Officials said the project could support around 5,000 farmers and create new jobs.
The municipality of Maasin, already known as the Bamboo Capital of the Philippines, is expected to play a crucial role, while Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. identified 9,000 hectares under Integrated Social Forestry Projects as potential plantation sites.
A bamboo manufacturing and production center is also in the works, with ILEDF scouting for land. The project will benefit from Iloilo’s Visayas International Container Terminal, which provides direct access to export markets.
Local leaders, including Mayor Raisa Treñas, have pledged support in marketing, research, and development. ILEDF representatives will also visit Cagayan de Oro this week to benchmark with Rizome Philippines, a top bamboo firm producing world-class building products.
