The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) has boost its efforts in addressing the challenges of the country’s bamboo industry.
PBIDC Chair and Department of Trade and Industry Sec. Ramon Lopez said that the council has identified new approaches and strategies to grow the industry that will lead to investments and job creation.
“We are updating our strategies and expanding the list of government agencies as well as private sector partners to be involved in the development of this industry. It will be a whole-of-nation approach to ensure sustainable progress. We are also working closely with long-time bamboo industry advocates,” said Lopez.
During the council meeting recently, strategies were set such as identification of more land suitable for bamboo plantation; sourcing of right species and planting materials; propagation strategies; setting up of treatment facilities; product development assistance; exploration on the potentials of bamboo fiber as well as its byproducts; and inclusion of bamboo in crop insurance.
The council is also looking at establishing bamboo industries at the barangay level to provide jobs and business opportunities in the countryside.
The inclusion of the Department of National Defense, Department of the Interior and Local Government, state universities and colleges, Commission on Higher Education, Climate Change Commission, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples as partner agencies were discussed.
DTI is currently assessing its 101 shared service facilities on bamboo processing nationwide. The agency is also consolidating bamboo’s market potentials.
It will likewise tap the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for skills development, training, and scholarships on bamboo production and processing, while the DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards will work on setting up standards for bamboo products. – Press release
April 17, 2024
