Press Release
February 4, 2016

Bams' Bamboo Boom Bill

Let's invest in a potential market that we can excel globally and at the same time, provide jobs to our Filipino people, especially in the countryside.

Sen. Bam Aquino underscored the need for a bamboo industry development program for the country to capture a lion's share of the $12-billion bamboo export market.

"It is necessary to have an organized and well managed bamboo industry development plan in order for the country to be more competitive in foreign markets. Let the Philippine bamboo industry boom," said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

In 2014, the country recorded a measly $10 million from export of bamboo and bamboo products.

In terms of job generation, bamboo production and processing has provided direct and indirect employment to an estimated 190,000 people.

"Huwag nating sayangin ang pagkakataong mas lumago pa. These numbers can continue to climb with the right support systems in place for the industry," said Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Bill No. 3206 to support the country's struggling bamboo industry.

Sen. Bam said there is a scarcity in the supply of raw materials due to lack of bamboo plantations in the country, forcing many enterprises to close shop.

"Despite this, there is little initiative in bamboo plantation development," said Sen. Bam.

The measure seeks to create a national program on bamboo industry development, which will help address policy issues that hamper bamboo supply and support research and development and product marketing, among others.

Aside from helping capture a large piece of the global market, the program will help provide livelihood to communities and tap the bamboo's vast capability to rehabilitate degraded watersheds, sequester carbon dioxide and assist in mitigation of climate change.

"With these developments and benefits, bamboo has been gaining popularity both locally and in foreign countries," said Sen. Bam.

For a long time, Sen. Bam worked with poor communities on livelihood projects and social business programs as a social entrepreneur before running for a Senate seat in 2013.

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