Philippine National Report on Bamboo and

Rattan
Merlyn N. Rivera

 Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau

 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),

College, Laguna,

Philippines

I. INTRODUCTION

The Philippine archipelago, composed of 7,100 islands, is located between latitudes 5 oN and 21oN and longitudes
116oE and 127oE. It is bordered by the Luzon strait to the north the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Celebes Sea to the
south, the Sulu and South China Seas to the west (FAO, 199 5 and World Resources Institute, 1994).

It has a total land area of 30 million ha, 53 percent (15.88 m. ha) of which is forest land (Philippine
(Philippine Forestry
Statistics 1996). Land is classified as alienable and disposable, unclassified and forest lands. Forest lands are
categorized into reservation, timberland, national parks, military and naval reservation, civil reservation and
fishponds.

There are approximately 69 million Filipinos (Philippine Statistical

Statistical Yearbook, 1997). T wo thirds of the population
live in rural areas. The total labor force in 1993 was 26.8 million (13.0 million in urban areas, and 13.8 million in
rural areas) with 10 percent unemployed (de Los Angeles and Ygrubay, 1992).

Almost all the lowland area suitable for intensive cultivation are occupied (ADB, 1994). Landless people are forced
to migrate to the steep uplands where they convert forests to farms through slash and burn cultivation and the most
notable result is forest degradation.
degradation. In 1994, it was estimated that deforestation occurs at a rate of 100,000 ha per
year.

Because of the rather sad plight of the environmental and socio-economic conditions of the people within the forest
lands, utilization of resources must be sustainably reached. Among the resources found within these forest lands are
bamboo and rattan. Bamboo and rattan have proven to be vital resources in terms o f its contribution to the national
economy and ecological stability of the Philippines.

Bamboo stands out among woody plants because it possesses unique qualities and offers offers a wide array of uses. The
bamboo culm has long been tapped as an inexpensive source of housing materials, furniture, handicraft, banana
props, fishpens and other innumerable products. The young shoots of certain species are gathered for food. The
rhizomes in its roots help prevent soil erosion and control floods. Through the years, the uses of bamboo have
largely diversified and benefited many industries. Because of its large fibers, it is also a good material for pulp and
paper. Its short rotation of about 4-6 years is a distinct advantage over fast growing tree species because of quick 
turn over in terms of investments.

In spite of its myriad of traditional uses, the main reasons for the classification of bamboo as a "minor forest
product" or "secondary timber" have been enumerated by B ello and Espiloy in 1995. These include the following:
1.) abundance of wood from natural forests in the past particularly the lesser known or commercially less accepted
species for the reproduction of reconstituted panel products; and 2.) constraints in cultivating bamboo which may be
monocarpic, fire tender and easily bruised.

In the Philippines, bamboo has diverse, functional and traditional uses. It underlies so much of Philippine culture
that it is part of many ceremonies, traditions and beliefs. Philippine culture is also replete with myths and tales about
bamboo. For example, the first Filipino man ("lalaki") and woman (babae") came from a piece of bamboo according
to a Visayan myth.

Various instruments be it wind, string or percussion are made out of bamboo while split and unsplit bamboo are
used in Philippine folkdances. Examples of these are "tinikling", "singkil", and "subli".

Bamboo is also part of Philippine folk games. The "palo sebo," a greased bamboo pole with a small bag of prize
money or toys tied at the end is a game always played during fiesta time. "Luksong kawayan" or high jump also uses
bamboo poles or sticks as hurdles.

Bamboo has likewise taken a very important role as a traditional weapon during times o f war. During the Spanish
era, bamboo mats were rolled to appear like cannons and were mounted on carts. On Sept. 2, 1896, a Filipino band
composed of bamboo musical instruments were used to fool their enemies b y attacking the Spanish garrison.

In ancient times, furniture was usually made of ba mboo. These include "papag" (bed), "bangko" (bench), and
"aparador" (cabinet). On the other hand, basketry is probably the oldest bamboo handicraft in the Philippines.
Bamboo baskets are produced for all sorts of uses.

Bamboo is also used in many ways for food and food preparation. Bamboo containers are used to steam rice, the
staple food of the Filipinos. Bamboo shoots are either cooked as food or pickled and is considered as a delicacy in
many places. However, this aspect of bamboo utilization has not yet been developed as an industry. Bamboo kitchen
utensils are carved from bamboo while split bamboo is woven and laminated to make plates. In rural areas,
"banggerahan or paminggalan" still serve as cupboards where dishes are dried and kept. Bamboo skewers are
commonly used to roast pigs while thinner sticks are used for barbeques such as pork, chicken, innards, hotdogs,
bananas and sweet potatoes.

In agriculture, bamboo is used as props for banana and vegetables, baskets for packaging fruits, fish and vegetables,
agricultural implements
implements and construction of animal drawn carts for transporting farm products. Bamboo is also used
as dibble sticks in planting. In early agriculture, bamboo was used for fetching water from riv ers, deep wells or
surface wells.

Bamboo is also used extensively as an indigenous material for soil and water conservation technologies. Check 
dams use woven bamboo strips between the pegs while bush or stones are placed against the dam’s upper side. In
protecting river/stream
river/stream banks, bamboo can be planted to stabilize water while holding the soil in place and reducing
water flow.

In the 1570s, when the Spaniards arrived in the country, the typical Filipino house or "bahay kubo" was built with a
framework of bamboo poles and walls of split cane woven like a mat.

Rattan on the other hand, is one of the country’s most important resources that have been constantly depleted. The
continuing loan of the industry in the 70s, 80s, and 90s have resulted in heavy extraction of the resource.
It is considered of economic importance to the Philippines because of the revenues generated through forest charges
which in 1996 amounted to P13.94M (PFS, 1996). Furthermore, the rattan industry contributes significantly to the
economy in generating foreign exchange, income
income and employment of dependent groups. In 1996, the export of non -
timber manufactured articles, including rattan articles amounted to US$40 million (Lapis, 1998).

Rattan is used as a raw material in the manufacture of furniture, baskets, and other handicraft items.

II. BAMBOO AND RATTAN RESOURCES

A. Bamboo Resources

In the past, bamboo production area would only refer to bamboos naturally growing in the forest and in "natural
stands" in private lands. However, today, bamboo plantations have become dependable sources of raw materials for
some segments of the bamboo industry (Table 1).

The Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), through the UNDP-FAO Bamboo Research and
Development Project established 57 ha of bamboo pilot plantations in six d ifferent sites of the country with 8 to 11
ha per site. Eight co mmercial species are being tried in the pilot plantations. These are the following:  Bambusa
blumeana (kauayan tinik);  Bambusa vulgaris (kiling); Bambusa sp. (bayog); Bambusa sp. (laak); Dendrocalamus
asper (giant bamboo); Gigantochloa levis (bolo); Gigantochloa atter (kayali); and Schizostachyum lumampao
(buho). The plantations are located in Rosario, La Union (Region 1); Pampanga Agricultural College (PAC),
Magalang, Pampanga (Region 3); Dumarao, Capiz (Region 6), Minglanilla, Cebu (Region 7), Malaybalay,
Bukidnon (Region 10); and Bislig, Surigao del Sur (CARAGA).

In Davao Province in Mindanao, thousands of hectares of lands were planted to laak ( Bambusa sp. 2). These were
meant for the demand for banana props.

Jose Pastor of Isla Verde, Batangas established a 50-ha kauayan-tinik ( Bambusa blumeana) plantation. The bamboos
were being used by the family in producing furnitures.

In Pililla, Rizal, Domingo Alfonso has a 20-ha kauayan-tinik ( Bambusa blumeana) plantation. The family is
producing high-quality furniture which they supply to department stores, i.e. Rustans, and SM stores and also for
export.

Based on the information from various sources the total available bamboo resources in terms of area covered and
annual estimated available bamboo poles for harvesting and utilization were analyzed according to the nature of 
origin (Table 2).

The computation showed that there is at least a total of about 39,211 to 52,711 ha of production area for erect
bamboos with an expected production of approximately 29 to 52 million harvestable poles per year. Of these
volume, about 65 to 68 percent will come from forestlands, 22 to 25 percent from natural stands, 5 to 5.5 percent
from private plantations and 3 to 4 percent from government plantations.
plantations. This data is rather high compared to the
figures presented in Table 3 where only 626,889 pieces of bamboo were gathered from forestlands in 1996.

Rojo in 1996 prepared a list of Philippine bamboos toxonomically recognized and/or published by various authors
(Table 4).

In that same year, Rojo reported that there are now 62 species of bamboos growing in the P hilippines (Table 5).
However, it seems that there are only 21 species of ba mboos endemic to the Philippines. Six of these are also native
to other countries. Of the endemics, those not found elsewhere but in the Philippines, seven belong to the genus
Schizostachybum of which five are climbing and are erect. The rest belong to other genera, of which three are erect
and five are climbing. Thus, most P hilippines bamboos that are native to the country are mostly climbing (10
species) and only five species are erect ones. The predominance of climbing bamboos over the erect ones of both
endemic and native species has an implication on the supply of culms available for commercial use. At present, the
climbing bamboos although abundant in terms of the number of culms are used for kaing or
o r basket making and
native fences which are priced lower than t he products manufactured from erect bamboos.

Of the native and erect bamboos, only four species are of economic and commercial importance (Rojo 1996). These
species are:  Dendrocalamus ( Bambusa
 Bambusa species) merrillianus, Shizostachyum lima , S. lumampao and ( Bambusa spec.
2) philippinensis. Nevertheless, domestication of introduced bamboos have long been done and are used
commercially.
commercially. The commercially useful
useful bamboos are shown in Table 6. It should be noted that of the twelve species
listed only 2 or 3 are native and/or endemic species.

B. Rattan resources

Rattan is a climbing palm with numerous thorns or spines, hairs, and bristles scattered all over the plant. Some
rattans have leaves with extended whip-like structure, the cirrus, which is an extension of the midrib. Others have
the flagellum, which is also whip-like, that arises from the axil of the leaf sheath. The cirri and flagella enable the
palm to climb adjacent trees for support (PCARRD, 1985).

Rattans are observed to be growing throughout the country from Batanes to Tawi-Ta wi islands (Table 7). They are
found from near sea level and medium elevations in the old and second growth forest but never in the open fields
(Pongkaluang, 1987 as cited by Rimando, 1996). Generally, most rattan species have a wide altitudinal range
although there are some species, which tend to have specific ranges (Lapis 1995).

The most widely distributed of the Philippine rattan species is ditaan ( Daemonorops mollis). This is followed by
Tandulang parang ( Calamus usitatis ) which is found in Batan Island, Babuyan Island, Zambales, Laguna, Quezon,
Camarines Norte and Sorsogon.

Palasan (C. merrillii) ranks third in d istribution and is generally found in the mountain ranges of Sierra Madre,
Cordillera, Kitanglad, Isarog, Halcon and Caraballo. Limuran ( C. ornatus var. philippinensis)
philippinensis) is well distributed in
Luzon, particularly in the mountains of Laguna, Bicol, Quezon, Rizal, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and
Sorsogon.

The distribution of rattan in four provinces was studied by Tandug (1984). The study areas included Palawan,
Laguna, Agusan del Sur and Davao del Norte. There were 27 species found, six of these are of commercial value.
value.
The harvestable cane of the mature plants is about 4 to 16 percent per hectare. The remaining rattan stands comprise
mostly of wildlings. Limuran was dominant in the survey areas with about 1689 lineal meters per hectare.

Species of the genus Korthalsia are found in Quezon, Leyte, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. T he
Plectocomias are found in Palawan, Bukidnon and Leyte.

The inventory on timber and NT FP (which included bamboo and rattan) was done by the Philippine-German Forest
Resources Inventory Project and was completed in 1988 (Tables 7 & 8). The same inventory indicated the rattan
species which include 69 known rattan species. T hese are distributed according to genera as follows: 48 for
Calamus, 14 for Daemonorops, 5 for Korthalsia and 2 for Plectocomia. Of these 69 species, 12 are commercially
significant. But according to Lapis (1995) there are 91 rattan species found in the Philippines - distributed as
Calamus, 70; Daemonorops, 14; Korthalsia, 5; and Plectocomia, 2. Among the 45 species of  Calamus, 32 are
endemic. In the genus  Daemonorops, 12 of the 14 species are endemic. In Korthalsia, two of the five species are
endemic and in Plectocomia, one of the two species is endemic. Among these one genera, Calamus is the largest and
most widely distributed throughout the country.

However, with the increasing demand for rattan poles, the above mentioned inventory cannot guarantee the annual
sustainability level of rattan.
According to the DENR Master Plan for Forestry Development (1990), the demand for small and large diameter
sized rattan poles by year 2000 may reach 437.2 million (Table 9). It is assumed that there is a decrease of 5 percent
in the annual growth of exports (1996 - 2000) due to competition with Indonesia. However, an increase in growth
rate was projected at 8 percent per annum for the years 2010 to 2015. T he increase was due to the expected new
markets which might have been found and developed.

With regards to rattan production areas 90 percent of the raw materials comes from the wild. These natural stands
now face rapid depletion because of rampant timber harvesting, conversion of forest areas into other land uses and
the unregulated cutting of rattan which reduces regeneration. Alarmed by the d windling supply of raw materials, the
rattan cottage and furniture manufacturers alerted the government of an imminent collapse of the industry. As an
immediate response, development of plantations was i nitiated to possibly rescue the industry from decline.

In 1977, the then Forest Research Institute now ERDB, established the initial trial plan ting of commercial species of 
rattan in Pagbilao, Quezon. At present, about 200 ha are planted with palasan ( Calamus merrillii ) and limuran
(Calamus ornatus var. Philippinensis).

Having shown the feasibility of growing rattan artificially, the National Development Corporation through the
Rattan Development Company, ventured into the first commercial and industrial rattan plantation in Mindanao. The
plantation is located within the concessions of Paper Industries Corporation (PICOP) and the Bislig Bay Lumber
Company in Surigao del Sur. The total plantation established in a period of eight years (1984-1992) was 5,185 ha.
Another private company, the Swedish Match Hillshog Philippines, Inc., in cooperation with the Provident Tree
Farms, Inc., established a 50-ha plantation in Mindoro Island and 150-ha plantation in Talacogon, Agusan province.
In both companies, the species planted were only palasan and limuran.

In 1983, the Iloilo National College of Agriculture established a 3-ha rattan plantation. Solitary type rattan species
found in the vicinity were used as planting materials (Lapis, 1996). In the same report of Lapis, a 4-ha farm planted
during the pre-war times was mentioned to still be the source of rattan poles for domestic use with Taguiti ( Calamus
vidalianus) being cultivated.

Furthermore, under DENR抯 reforestation program which started in 1989, various rattan plantation development
projects were contracted throughout the various regions.

II. PRODUCTION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

A. Bamboo

1. Propagation techniques

Bamboos can be propagated either by sexual ( reproductive ) or asexual (vegetative)

(vegetative) means. Sexual propagation is
by means of seeds. Ho wever, this is not popular in the country due to the irregularity and rarity of flowering of 
common bamboo species. Nevertheless, some species like buho ( Schizostachyum lumampao) flower gregariously.
According to studies made on Kayauan tinik ( Bambusa blumeana), even if seeds are available, these are mostly
infertile and viability is low. Vegetative or asexual propagation makes use of different parts of bamboo plants as
propagation material. There are various methods of vegetative propagation described by various authors, ERDB -
DENR/FAO/UNDP (1994) and PCCARD (1991). These are as follows:

a. Clump division

The safest method is by clump division. This is normally used for bamboo species which are difficult to propagate.
This method is also preferred when there is a need for rapid growth. However, this method is laborious and affects
the productive capacity of the clump.

b. Basal Culm Division or Offset

This method makes use of the rhizomes and the portion of the culms. It is commonly used in the monopodial or non-
clump forming bamboos. It can be applied to some sympodial bamboo species with loose clumps such a s "Anos " (S.
lima) and "Buho" (S. Lumampao) because these are difficult to propagate either by culm or branch cutting.

c. Culm cutting

This uses segments of culm (cuttings) bearing buds or fascicles of branches. Cuttings are extensively used to
propagate bamboo of the genera  Bambusa, Dendrocalamus
Dendrocalamus and Gigantochloa.

d. Branch cutting

This method ia an alternative method of propagating rhizomatous branch producing bamboos like "Bayog"
(D.asper ),
), "Kauayan tinik" ( B. blumeana), kauayan kiling, (B. vulgaris) and other similar varieties.

e. Branch Marcot Culm cutting

This method is similar to culm cutting method. Ho wever, it induces first the rooting of branches by marcotage,
before the culm is cut into one-node pieces for planting.

f. Tissue culture

This involves the development of new plants from plant tissues in artificial media under aseptic conditions. Dr.
Alfinetta Zamora of the Institute of Plant Breeding at UPLB has developed satisfactory protocols for machiku ( D.
latiflorus), calcutta bamboo ( D. strictus) and "Buho" (S. lumampao).

g. Airponics

It is a method of accelerating the growth of plants in o xygen-rich environment without soil (Maravilla, 1996 ). The
plant root zone is suspended in a growing chamber and intermittently pulse misted with a nutrient solution.
Propagation of bamboo through this method is still very new. The facility of airponics plant propagation system
(APPS) is located in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, Central Philippines.

Given these various propagation methods, the most common method practiced in the country is culm cutting with
some procedural variations found practical and effective by individual propagators. This is applied to the most
common commercial species such as "Bayog", "Kauayan tinik"," kauayan kiling", "Bolo", 搇aak", and "Kayali." For
giant bamboo and "Bayog," branch cutting and branch marcotting have been e mployed, respectively ( Gigare et al.
1992 and Alfonso, D. 1990). Offset method is found to be effective in propagating buho where culm cutting is not so
successful. Tissue culture derived plants of  Dendrocalamus strictus and Schizostchyum lumampao have been
 Dendrocalamus strictus
produced and seedlings have been trial planted and are now vigorously growing in the field (Zamora and Gruezo,
1992). Maravilla (1996) reported that branch cutting of giant bamboo has been successfully propagated through
APPS.

2. Plantation establishment
establishment

a. Site requirements

The growth and development of ba mboo depends on water, sunlight, nutrients and other growth requirements.
However, these growth requirements vary from one species to another. Nevertheless, these important requirements
as forwarded by some authors (PCARRD 1992, Malvas 1995, Hoang et al. 1992 and MPFD 1990) hold true for
Philippine bamboo.

b. Site preparation
The Bamboo Farming Manual published by the ERDB-DENR/UNDP/FAO (1994), PCARRD (1989), Pinol et
al.(1991), Lapis et al. (1987), Hoang (1991), and Malab et al. (1996) describe the various steps in the preparation of 
planting site for bamboo:

i. Sketching or mapping and d elineation of area

It is important to sketch the main features of the planting site to assess the accessibility of the area to water sources
and determine the location, size and form of the plantation

ii. Staking

Four corners of the plantation should be marked with long poles. If the plantation is too large, it should be divided
into compartments measuring 100m x 100 m.

iii. Field layout

The recommended spacing for most commercial bamboo species and other large clump and culm bamboo is from
7m x 7m to 10m x 10m. For medium size clump bamboos like laak and boho the spacing is 4m x 5 m. For riverbank 
and enbankment stabilization planting quincunx system is suggested at a closer spacing of 5m x 5m.

iv. Clearing

Weeds and unwanted vegetation is removed from the area. Depending on vegetation site, complete clearing or strip
clearing may be done. For riverbank or hillside planting, spot clearing is recommended for least soil disturbance.

v. Planting hole preparation

The planting hole which is prepared in advance should be wide enough to accommodate the propagules either rooted
or directly planted. The suggested dimension of the planting hole is 50 cm wide and 40 cm deep.

c. Transporting/Hardening of planting stock 

Hardening of the plants prior to transporting for outplanting which is about 4 to 6 months after potting is
recommended. Loading and unloading of potted propagules is carefully done to avoid damage especially to the roots
and new shoots.

d. Planting

Planting of bamboo in plantation can be done either by direct planting of cuttings or by outplanting the nursery-
raised propagules.

e. Plantation maintenance and silvicultural treatments

treatments

i. Fertilization
Fertilization

Although bamboo can grow in harsh conditions, it is sometimes necessary to apply fertilizer to provide the plants the
nutrients necessary for optimum growth, especially in very poor and marginal areas. Fertilizer application which is
about 200 to 300 gm of complete fertilizer is done at planting time and every 3 to 4 months thereafter. Organic
fertilizer such as cow dung and chicken manure is also recommended.

ii. Watering
When rainfall is irregular and plants show signs of wilting during the first few months after planting, watering is
deemed essential.

iii. Mulching

To reduce moisture loss from the soil and from the plant, mulching is recommended. This entails covering the hills
and the plant with grasses and other organic materials.

iv. Replacement of mortality

Replacement of plants that have died should be done as soon as possible because the growth of the replanted plants
may be suppresed by the older plants.

v. Weeding and brushing

Regular weeding and brushing is done during the first two years of plantation establishment
establishment to eliminate competition
for light, water and nutrients from other vegetation.

vi. Thinning

Thinning is done three years after planting to remove damaged, defective and dead culms. More space is provided
for the growth of new shoots and for better facilitation of management activities.

vii. Pruning

Pruning of lower branches of the culms is recommended to provide access to the clums during fertilization and
harvesting.

viii. Protection

Establishment of firebreaks along the boundaries and compartment of plantations especially during dry months is
recommended to prevent fires. Planting of fast growing fire resistant species is also recommended.

Fencing the plantation perimeters should be done if grazing animals like cattle, goats, carabao are prevalent in the
area.

Rodents are common pests which damage shoots and young culms. Termites also destroy roots and lower portions
of the culm. Other bamboo pests commonly observed are cottony cushion mealy bug, bamboo scale, locust, leaf 
roller, tussick, moth and aphids. Bamboo diseases include tar spot, leafspot, leaf rust, culm blight, and other
physiological diseases. Commercial rodenticides,
rodenticides, insecticide and fungicide can be applied to control these pests and
diseases. However, none of these have been reported to be in widespread proportion to pose a serious problem.

f. Bamboo Harvesting Systems/Methods

Harvesting is of great importance because it is the culmination of all production activities and efforts.

There are two known methods or systems of harvesting as practiced in the country:

i. Selective cutting

This is the most common and traditional practice where only the selected culms or p oles of some specific age are
harvested.
ii. Clear cut or blanket method

All poles/culms regardless of age are cut leaving only the very young culms and shoots. Ho wever, this system is
practiced in very limited areas and for specific purpose. This method is known to be applied in laak species
( Bambusa sp. 2) which are used as banana props.

Factors to consider in harvesting bamboo

 Culm age

Generally, most of the commercial bamboo species are harvested between 3 -5 years old.

 Cutting time/season

Dry season is the best time to harvest bamboo when the culms are lowest in terms of starch content level making it
less susceptible to powder post beetle attack. No shoot emergence also occurs during this time, hence shoot d amage
is evaded.

 Cutting height

Cutting of poles/culms should be done as close as possible to the ground preferably after the first node for maximum
pole utilization and growing space management.

 Distribution

Culms to be harvested should be uniformly distributed

distributed within the clump periphery. This allow s even spacing of the
culms to be left and eventually of the new shoots that will emerge.

Harvesting Treatment for Old Unmanaged Bamboo Clumps

Due to inappropriate harvesting practices and absence of proper management, most of the existing bamboo stands
have become dense and congested. Ho wever, these bamboo stands can be reinvigorated and improved by hilling-up
of the soil occupied by the
t he clumps and through fertilizer application. Thinning/cleaning can also improve
productivity. There are two known methods of thinning old clumps - horse shoe and cross pattern methods.

B. Rattan

Rattan planting stocks can be propagated either from seeds or vegetatively (FORI, 1986). If seeds are used, the
following activities are pursued:

1. Seed Collection/Seed
Collection/Seed Extraction

Only ripe rattan fruits are collected and the best season to collect is from October to November.

Seeds may be extracted from the fruit either b y crushing with the hands or by soaking in water.

2. Planting Stock Production

Removal of the hilar cover is done to reduce the germination time from 365 days to 2 days. The breakthrough was
done by the then Forest Research Institute (FORI) now ERDB which successfully germinated palasan seeds in two
days only with 96.5% germination. It rattan wildlings are collected, these should be not more than 30 cm. tall.
Collection must be done during the rainy season. Fertilizer application at a rate of 5 -7 grams complete fertilizer per
seedling is recommended. Gradual exposure to sunlight for at least three months before outplanting in the field is
necessary.

Production of rattan planting stock by vegetative means is possible. Ho wever, these methods are not as popular as
the use of seeds. Cuttings, suckers/aerial roots and tissue culture are presently used in some research studies.

3. Plantation
P lantation establishment
establishment

a. Selection of Planting Site

Rattan requires the presence of vegetation as shade when young and support as its matures.

The following are areas suitable for rattan development:

 brushlands or tracts of forestlands generally covered with trees which are not scheduled for reforestation
within the next 10 years.
 recently logged over-areas (with residuals
 second growth forests not scheduled for re-logging within the next 10 years
 areas accessible for easier management and supervision

b. Site preparation

Soil analysis is done to kno w the soil condition of the site and determine the kind and dosage of fertilizer necessary
for rattan growth. Underbrushing, staking and preparation of holes are also done.

c. Outplanting

Transporting the seedlings/planting

seedlings/planting materials to the planting site should be done with utmost care and least
disturbance. Distance of planting should be 5m x 5m. Furthermore, rattans should be planted .5m to 1m away from
the trunk of the existing tree/brush.

d. Maintenance

Ring weeding of a radius of 50 cm around the plant for a period of 2 years is recommended. On the other hand
fertilizer application
application is done one
o ne month after planting then once a year for three years at a rate of 10 gm. per plant.

4. Harvesting

Kilmer (1994) reported that there has been little if any change in the technologies used for collecting rattan poles.
Harvesting is usually done by a team of two harvesters. One climbs the trees to loosen the "grip" of long canes while
the other stays on the ground to pull and cut using a bolo the cane into poles.

Virtucio et.al. 1988 reported that in the harvesting and trimming process, as much as 32 percent of the merchantable
length might have been wasted. Wastage occurs when long canes cannot be pulled down from the forest canopy in
one piece. These are cut so that only the accessible parts can be harvested.

IV. PROCESSING AND UTILIZATION

1. Major Products and Uses

Bamboo

Generally, bamboo products are classified as primary (poles, shoots and stumps), secondary or semi-processed
(sawali, splits, sticks, boards) and finished products (handicraft, furniture and ready to cook/eat shoots). Primary and
secondary products are inputs for various industries including housing, fishing, agriculture and manufacturing
manufacturing while
finished products are directly channelled to end-users in both do mestic and export markets for direct consumption
(OIDCI, 1997).

Primary Products

a. Poles - The most common shape of the full culm is usuallly tapered from the butt to the tip.

b. Shoots - This
T his is the emerging portion of the rhizome that becomes the culm/pole, a number of bamboo shoots are
edible.

c. Stump - This
T his is the portion of the bamboo plant/clump left after harvesting.

Secondary Products

a. Sawali

Bamboo mats are made by plaiting splits. The matting is used for interior walls partitions, ceilings doors and
windows and for exterior walls. Mats are produced in a variety of shapes a nd patterns.

b. Splits

The term split is used for any shape smaller than a quarter of the culm. Generally, splits are not used as building
components but are woven into mats or made into lashing.

c. Boards

Bamboo boards are commonly used for flooring walls and even roofing. A board consists of culm that has been cut
and unfolded until it is almost flat.

Finished Products

a. Furniture

Furniture made of bamboo include sala set, dining tables, corner and center tables, cabinets, beds, lounging chairs,
sofa beds and rocking chairs.

b. Handicraft

These are non-traditional products made of indigenous raw materials like wood, rattan, bamboo, buri, abaca and
handwomen, fibers. Products of the handicraft industry include trays, brooches, pen holders, wall decor, boxes,
decorative baskets, vases, fans, and fancy items.

c. Processed foods

Bamboo shoots throughout Southeast Asia are eaten fresh, pickled or diced. Processed bamboo shoots from various
producing countries are being exported to more than 20 countries including the Philippines.\ 
2. The role of bamboo in the construction industry, fishing, agriculture and pulp/paper industry

Bamboo is a popular construction material for low cost houses among the Filipinos especially those living in the
countryside. Its popularity is due to several reasons which i nclude 1) abundance of material, 2) simple tools may be
used in building a house, 3) existence of traditional skills and methods necessary for construction, and 4) the
bamboo house which can easily be built is well ventilated, sturdy and earthquake resistant.

Inspite of these reasons, there are difficulties faced by the users in processing and mechanically fabricating bamboos
due to its physical characteristics. These are the variation in dimensions, crookedness of the culms, non-uniformity
of internodes and uneveness of taper.

Bamboo is developed into various product lines for the construction industry (OIDCI 1997) and this include
packaged "Bahay kubo", sawali sheets, ba mboo roof (shinges), bamboo spokes and bamboo splits. There are
likewise new products such as panel boards, plyboo, sawali board, plyboard, and laminated board which are
potential substitutes for plywood and lawanit.

Table 10 shows the uses, product lines, and survey areas according to various sources.

Table 10. Bamboo survey areas and construction use/product lines.

SURVEY AREA PERCENT USAGE OF USE/PRODUCT LINE

POPULATION

Camarines Sur 95% of rural population house posts, doors, stairs, bridges,
windows, cooking area, sink, gates, fences,
(Lopez, 1997) scaffolding animal pens, out houses,
storage areas

Central Visayas 48% of interviews home dwellings

(Alino, 1989)

1997 OIDCI survey packaged "bahay kubo" "sawali sheets

bamboo roof (shingles)

bamboo spokes

bamboo splits

panel boards, plyboo, sawali board,

plyboard, laminated board

There are also novel products manufactured from bamboo which may have an important role in the co nstruction
industry in the very near future (OIDCI, 1997) as shown in Table 11.
Table 11. New bamboo manufactured products.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Bamboo parquet block  composite material

material made of wood vencers and bamboo slots

Bamboo particle board combination of ipil-ipil wood and bamboo particles glued, and
pressed to form a board

Resin-bonded bamboo urea formaldehyde is used to glue bamboo mats

mat

Corrigated bamboo sheet woven, glued and hot p

pressed
ressed bamboo slivers in the fabricated
(CBS) corrugated mold

Bamboo plyboard pre-painted panel board made basically out of waste plastics,
rice hull ash and bamboo

In Northern Philippines, mussel cultivators and fishpen operators are two major bamboo users for this industry. One
hundred thirty-five cultivators have an annual culm requirement of 13,500 bayog poles and 8 fishpen operators need
25,500 kawayan tinik ( B. alumeana) culms per year. Bamboos used in the fishing industry are not treated with
preservatives. Prolonged immersion in water has a preservative effect on the culms. The other uses of bamboo in the
fishing industry include rafts, traps/coral, fishpen, boat outriggers, fish shelters, stakes and fishing rods.

Bamboo poles are used as props to support fruit-bearing bananas. The species used as props are: "kawayan tinik" ( B.
alumeana), "bolo" (G. levis), "Laak" ( B.gp.
 B.gp. 2), and "Kayali" (G. atter ).
). Drying and preservation techniques applied
on bamboo for construction are also done for bamboos used as banana props.

Bamboo is an important raw material for pulp and paper manufacture. Bamboo was used by the Bataan Pulp and
Paper Mills Inc. (BPPMI) in the late 1960s for the production of quality printing and writing paper. However, after a
number of years of operation the company shifted to logging residues from Mindanao. In 1993, a small paper
factory in Calamba, Laguna utilized bamboo to produce pulp which was processed into incense paper for export to
Taiwan.

Rattan

There are two major product types in the rattan marketing system: - 1) raw materials which include poles and splits
which have undergone first stage processing like scraping drying and splitting and the wicker and core which have
gone through second stage processing and 2) finished products which include furniture and handicrafts in varying
designs, market outlets and uses (Pabuayon, et. al. 1996).

Novel Method in improving rattan products

 Simple dip treatment

The Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRRDI) has developed a method of reducing fungal
staining of the poles consequently increasing pole quality/value (Kilmer, 1994). This treatment which involves
dipping freshly cut poles in a solution of water and fungicide (sodium pentachloraphenate) can be applied in the
forest and is most effective when done immediately after harvesting.
harvesting.

3. State of bamboo and rattan handicrafts in the country

Majority of the country’s regions are engaged in bamboo ha ndicraft production. Because bamboo is readily
available, it is crafted into various household items/commercial articles for both local and foreign markets. Common
items include trays, lampshades, fancy baskets, brooches, napkin rings, pen holder, jewelry boxes, flower vases.

In Northern Philippines, the basket making industry is distinctly separated from handicrafts because a lot of people
are specializing in kaing (basket) making. Three towns in Pangasinan exclusively produce these two product lines.
The annual bamboo requirement of the 611 basket makers is about 97,760 culms.

Rattan handicrafts are much less dependent than furniture on having large quantities of high quality, large diameter
rattan poles available. Filipino designers and manufacturers have gained a well justified reputation for innovation in
the use of alternative materials and the production of higher value handicraft products.

The total value of Philippine handicraft exports was held relatively stable from 1989 through 1992 (Table 12). T he
US was the primary recipient of these products accounting for nearly 50 percent of total exports in 1992.

Table 12. Philippine handicraft exports.

EXPORTS (IN US$ THOUSANDS)

1989 1990 1991 1992

Bags and Baskets 63691 65133 n.a. 78058

(Mixed material)

Articles of Basketwork  57963 52612 n.a. 43021

or wickerwork 

TOTAL 121,654 117,745 121,079

Source: Philippine Trade Statistics as cited by OIDCI 1997.

4. Standard of Classification for Bamboo and Rattan

In marketing bamboo raw materials, there seemed to be inadequate or lack of common

co mmon classification
classification standards
(Rivera et.al. 1996). Bamboo was purchased based on length, diameter size, straightness of pole and age/maturity.
age/maturity.

Manufacturing firms of high end products usually have standards which they keep when purchasing rattan raw
materials to ensure high quality manufactured products. These standards are shown in T able 13. However, the other
buyers do not observe these criteria.

Table 13. Criteria used by manufacturers in purchasing rattan raw materials.

SPECIES CRITERIA CONDITION ALLOWANCE

 Size (diameter)

1 1/8" down full dry single scrape flat (no allowance)

Kalapi (C. ornatus var. half dry single scrape 1 1/16"

philippinensis
with bolo marks 1 1/16"

with skin 1 1/16"

1 3/16 full dry, single scape

half dry, single scape flat

with bolo marks flat

with skin 1 1/16"

Grade/Class 1 1/16"

BC Class: one side black 

Acceptable all side black 

shrinkage (maximum

of 1 foot)

about 2 pinholes per

foot or maximum of 

20 per pole

D Class

Acceptable all side black 

shrinkage (maximum

of 2 feet)

pinholes per feet

Not acceptable more than 2 feet

shrinkage
 Broken

Brittle

Twisted

Full of pin holes

especially if 

concentrated on

nodes

Palasan (C. merrillii) All sizes full dry, single scape flat

half dry, single scape 1 1/16"

Grade/Class with skin, single scape 1 1/16"

ABC Class one side black 

 Acceptable (maximum of 2 feet)

all sides black 

(maximum of 1 feet)

shrinkage (maximum

of 6 inches)

about 20 pinholes/pole

Not acceptable more than 6 inches

shrinkage

Broken

Brittle

Twisted

Full of pinholes

especially if 

concentrated on nodes

Source: Rivera, 1988

IV. MARKETS AND SOCIO-ECONOMICS

A. Bamboo

Bamboo export mainly consisted of basket/basketware

basket/basketware (92.47%) and furniture (7.41%). For basket/basketware,
28.08 million pieces valued at US$39.93 million were exported to various countries with USA as the biggest buyer
of volume valued at US$ 21.46 million. Other buyers include Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Spain and
others (1996 Philippine Forestry Statistics).

Bamboo was also reported by the 1996 Philippine Forestry Statistics to have been exported with a volume of 19,000
kg. valued at US$43,000 FOB compared to 1995 exports of 9,000 kg. valued at US$22,000 FOB.

On the other hand, there were reports that 293 seats of bamboo valued at US$12,188 FOB and US$13950 CIF were
imported from Thailand and Vietnam in 1996 (1996 PFS). Likewise the same source reported that a total of 98,065
kg. of bamboo valued at US$57,575 FOB and US$57484 CIF were imported mostly from Indonesia,
Indonesia, Hongkong,
Thailand and Vietnam.
Participants in the Bamboo Sector

The bamboo sector involves various participants ranging from licensees, gatherers, manufacturers, factory workers,
traders and consumers. They are not mutually exclusive such that a market participant may be involved in various
activities at varying extent.

Determination of the total number of market-participants may not be possible due to various reasons (OIDCI, 1997).
First is the proliferation of small unregistered firms and informal market transactions. Another reason is that some
firms also handle non-bamboo materials and products which may be listed under non-bamboo firms. Lastly, the
dynamism of the market prompts
pro mpts participants to shift to other products and/or economic activities.

Pabuayon and Espanto in 1997 as cited by the 1997 OIDCI document report that there are more than 70,000
participants including licensees, processors,
processors, exporters, manufacturers and workers (Table 14). The same table shows
that there are 171 participants including bamboo - based firms but exludes workers involved in gathering,
manufacturing and trading.

Characteristics of Market Participants

Based on a survey of participants in the Cordilleras and Western Visayas as presented in T able 15, all of the
respondents have gone to school with majority of the workers having attended the secondary and vocational levels.
Workers include both males and females with most of them depending on bamboo activities as a primary source of 
income. However, annual income from bamboo except for traders and manufacturers is low for gatherers with an
average of P5000. The same is experienced by raw material producers and furniture workers with an income of 
P5000 - 10000 per year. Raw material traders and handicraft workers earned an average of P15000 per annum.

Product flow through various market levels

An survey done by Navera in 1996, shows that there are two sources of bamboo. T hese are from natural stands and
plantations. The survey revealed that half of the 73 bamboo enterprises interviewed obtained their bamboo poles
from natural stands while the rest obtained their poles from local traders. Sixty percent (60%) of the firms sell their
finished products directly to households and the rest to exporters and other manufacturers.

On the other hand, Rivera et. al. 1996 described the various market channels involved for raw materials and selected
finished products such as bamboo poles, mats, sala set, mirror frames etc. in Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Abra
(Figures 1, 2, 3). The various services rendered at a given channel were also listed together with the value addition
incurred at each respective channel.

B. Rattan

In general, the rattan industry contributes significantly to the economy in generating foreign exchange, income and
employment of dependent groups. In 1996, the export of non-timber manufactured articles, including rattan articles,
amounted close to US$40M. This amount however, is smaller compared to 1993 figures where exports reached
US$73M (Lapis, 1998).

Determination of the exact number of people involved in the rattan production, marketing, manufacturing and
exporting is rather difficult because of the existence of unregistered and small firms. Nevertheless, various reports
provide an indication of the number of people employed by the industry.

Table 16 shows the estimated number of firms and workers in the gathering, trading, manufacturing and exporting
activities in the rattan industry while Table 17 presents the respective wages received by the workers.

Participants in the Rattan Sector

Because of the difficulty of coming up with the total number of participants in the rattan sector only site specific
socio-economic information
information have been
b een generated. Aquino (1993) provided the characteristics of the disadvantaged
groups in the bamboo and rattan sectors (Table 18). Furthermore, Table 19 presents the characteristics of rattan
manufacturers firm size, in Luzon and Cebu while Table 20 shows the general characteristics
characteristics of rattan based
handicraft sellers and buyers in Quezon and Metro Manila. On the o ther hand, the distribution and characteristics of 
rattan traders by type of product is shown in Table 21. Lastly, Tables 22 and 23 show the general characteristics of 
bamboo and rattan based furniture and handicraft manufacturer-exporters.

Market Channels

The marketing system of rattan raw materials in terms of five channels was summarized by Kilmer in 1994 (Figure
4). The first channel shows the
t he flow of products from the gatherers to the small scale manufacturers who produce for
their local markets. These manufacturers purchase from cutting group leaders or from gatherers. Drying and
scraping is done by them and simple products are manufactured for direct sale to the public. T he major part of local
manufacture is based on orders placed by consumers before production begins.

Channels 2 to 5 are oriented toward the export market although a small portion is channelled to local consumers.

Rivera in 1988 described the marketing system of rattan raw materials which followed a general trend (Figure 5). A
permittee hires an authorized representative or contractor who in turn hires natives or local folks to do the actual
harvesting. The poles are then transported to the permittees’ stockyard and finally to the middlemen who supply the
furniture/handicraft
furniture/handicraft manufacturers.
manufacturers.

Pabuayon et. al. (1988) described the marketing channels of rattan furniture and handicraft products from raw form
into finished form. Raw materials are obtained from concessionnaires or traders (Figure 6). T hese are then sold to
furniture handicraft manufacturers or contractors. Finished products are distributed through several channels before
reaching the final end-user.

Prices by Product Type and Quality

Bamboo

At a given market level, ba mboo prices differ by species and quality, the latter differentiated by diameter size and
length. In a study made by Maligalig and Saguin (1990), it was reported that in some cases, poles are traded assorted
or unclassified while others simply classify bamboo poles as big or small.

In a 1996 survey by Rivera, et. al. It was revealed that higher grades commanded better prices
prices and lower grades,
lower prices. The prices in pesos (P) per pole at the producers and traders levels are shown in Table 24:

Table 24. Price of bamboo raw materials at the producers and traders level.

BAMBOO TYPE PRODUCER (P) TRADER (P)

Class A (10 - 15ft) 25.00 45.00

Class B (6 - 9ft ) 14.00 31.67

Class C (4 - 5 ft) 6.00 11.33

 Poser (1000抯) 100.00 120.00

Split (6 ft, 50s) 28.12 46.62

Split (8 ft, 50 抯) 47.50 67.50

Rattan

Rivera 1988 and Pabuayon et.al. 1988 computed for the profit rates (before taxes) of rattan traders and
manufacturers (Table 25). Profits for traders ranged from -2 to 329 percent of the total cost per truckload or
container van while manufacturers of furniture obtained 49 percent of the total cost compared to the 32 percent
obtained by handicraft manufacturers. On the other hand, traders of rattan furniture obtained a higher profit margin
than traders of handicraft.

Table 25. Profit rates (before taxes) of rattan traders and manufacturers, Philippines.

OPERATOR PROFIT (PESOS) a/  % OF TOTAL COST

Traders of rattan poles (1989) b/  Per truckload or container van c/ 

Quirino 163,849 329

Pampanga 3,528 3

Quezon 74,501 161

Palawan 21,004 46

Leyte 53,346 32

Samar (2,604) (2)

Agusan 1,944 2

Davao 37,025 7

Manufacturers (1986-87) Per month operation

Furniture d/  416,556 49

Handicraft e/  31,340 32

Traders of rattan products (1986- Per month operation

87)

Furniture f/  40,389 73

Handicraft g/  69,601 52

a/ Exchange rates: US$1.00 - P20.34 for 1986-87 and US$1.00 - P21.20 for 1989.

b/ Averages for different species (palasan, kalapi, tumalim, and limuran) and from different
destinations with the Philippines

c/ 12,500 poles per truckload and 9,000 poles per container van

d/ For major manufacturing centers (Cebu, Pampanga and Manila)

e/ For Pangasinan only

f/ For Angeles, Pangasinan and Manila

g/ For Baguio, Angeles and Manila

In a study by UNAC, PBSP

PB SP in 1993 (Table 26), the price, cost and income structure of rattan cutting contractors in
Amas, Palawan was obtained. Ho wever, the annual net income could not be estimated because the study reported
net profit data on a per pole basis for only one particular shipment.

Kilmer (1994) reported that a ¾ inch x 10 feet rattan pole is priced from P3.50/piece to P7.25 per piece (Table 27).

Table 27. Price structure of a 3/4 x 10 ft rattan pole from a Palawan forest to a Manila Manufacturer.

MARKET LEVEL SELLING PRICE

Gatherer

Group leader at collection center 3.50

Provincial trader in Puerto Princesa, Palawan 5.50

Wholesaler/Trader in Manila 7.50

9.25

Source: Kilmer Interviews, September, 1994

Value Addition

As the materials move along the market chain to a higher level, prices, generally increase due to value addition
associated with services performed and profit associated with services performed and profit or margins of market
intermediaries.

In survey of Rivera et. al. (1996) the respective shares of the market participants both in cost and profit involved in
the production and sale of some selected bamboo finished products are shown below. It can be observed that greater
value occurs at the manufacturing stage due to inputs and profit margin.
 Table 28. Cost and profit shares of market participants in the production and sale
of selected bamboo finished products.

MARK SOFA PALAY STORAGE SINGLE BED

PARTICIPANTS

P % P % P %

Gatherer 20 8 - - - -

Producer Cost 48 19 25 6 10 7

Producer Profit 30 12 100 25 20 13

Manufacturer Cost 105 42 270 68 30 20

Manufacturer Profit 47 19 5 1 90 60

Product Value 250 100 400 100 150 100

POLICY AND LEGISLATION

Bamboos found in forest lands are considered and lumped with other non-wood (minor) forest products. Therefore,
collection and harvesting is governed by DENR Policies and Regulations as specified for in the Revised Forestry
Administrative Order No. 11 dated September 14, 1970 wherein cutting permits should be secured prior to
collection and harvesting. The Annual Allowable Cut (AAC ) of a permittee is guided b y the following formula:

AAC = Ap x Ar x 4

where:

Ap = area covered by permit (ha.)

Ar = number of clump per hectare

4 = number of culms harvested per chump

It is assumed that a clump could yield 4 culms per year.

Bamboos collected from forest lands are also subject to forest charges pursuant to DAO 40 dated November 8, 1994.
The forest charges which are based on RA 7181, species and FOB market price of forest products are shown below:

Table 29. Bamboo forest charges.

COMMON NAME SPECIES RATE (P/PIECE)

Kawayan kiling/tinik  6.00

Bayog 3.00

Boho/Bolo 2.00

Other species of erect bamboo 1.50

All climbing bamboo .50

Bamboos harvested from Industrial Tree Plantations and private lands covered by titles are exempted from payment
of forest charges.

Bamboo has also been included in the list of species recommended for the Forestation
Forestation Program of the DE NR. It has
also been considered for DENR watershed rehabilitation
rehabilitation and soil erosion control projects. It is also used by the
DENR in the community
co mmunity based forest management program.

Policy controlling or regulating interval and/or external trade of bamboo

Aside from the cutting permit and forest charges to be paid for bamboo collected from public lands, DENR monitors
movement and transport of bamboo by requiring a Certificate on Non-Timber Forest Product Origin (CNFPO). This
is specified in DENR Administrative Order 59 dated September 30, 1993. Bamboo harvested from industrial tree
plantations and private or titled lands are exempted provided they are certified by the DENR Community
Environment and Natural Resources Office. However, some irregularities may be experienced since even those
coming from public lands may still be certified coming from private lands. This may be the reason why DENR
Statistics on harvest and forest charges remain underestimated, thus losses in terms of government revenue and
unsustainable harvesting practices.

As far as import/export regulations are concerned, bamboo poles are prohibited for exportation except for scientific
or testing purposes and need export clearance from the government as provided for by the amended rules and
regulations implementing Presidential Decree 930.

For exporters of manufactured bamboo products, general procedures required for exportation such as securing
export clearance, standardization and inspection, payment of inspection fees, submission and registration of export
declaration must be complied with. Importation of bamboo poles for commercial purposes is not allowed except for
non-commercial purposes such as pearl farm fencing. Nevertheless, these policies should be reviewed to encourage
bamboo plantation development and consequently, support the development of the bamboo based industries.
industries.

Policy controlling or regulating access to rattan

Rattan gathering is controlled by the DENR since the government has jurisdiction over forest resources where rattan
thrives. Before one can have access
a ccess to these rattan resources a rattan cutting concession, an annual cutting
concession and an annual cutting license should first be obtained. The concession agreement specifies certain
geographic boundaries where rattan may be collected. Concessions are generally granted to individuals, private
companies or indigenous cultural communities (ICCs). The government have also started granting a ncestral domain
claims to ICCs which gives them the right to sustainably use the resources including rattan found within their
claims.

As of 1996 (PFS, 1996), the government has issued a total of 355 rattan cutting contracts covering 3.2M ha to
individuals, corporations and ICCs for the purpose of managing rattan resources.
All concessionaires are required to file harvesting plans with the local/regional DENR offices to limit their
harvesting to a calculated annual allowable cut specified in the concession agreement. They are also required to pay
a Rattan Special Deposit Fund for reforestation which will be used to carry out the reforestation activities within the
concessions. It is currently set at P0. 50 per linear meter for poles over 2 cm. in diameter and P0.20 per linear meter
for smaller poles.

Forest charges are also paid by the concessionnaires to DENR. Forest charges are set at rate equal to 10 percent of 
the market price of the product in Manila. However, Kilmer in 1994 observed that effective rates for the largest
poles are somewhat lower than the 10 percent target. For more common small poles, effective rates can reach as
high as 26 percent or 100 percent of the price received by the gatherer.

Shipping documents such as the Certificate of Minor Forest P roducts (CMFOs) are required from traders.

Kilmer 1994 reported that the cutters and traders have developed a system of reducing the local charges to an
affordable level. While the DENR is reportedly trying to clean up the forest charge collection system, the effective
collection of full forest charges would have the effect of increasing the market price of small diameter poles and
further weakening the position of Filipino manufacturers in international markets.

The evasion of forest charges also has the effect of undermining the DENR 抯 ability to control and even monitor the
amount of cutting being done. T he data on the volume of harvest is determined on the basis of the same documents
which serve as the basis for the collection of forest charges thus, underestimation of cut is highly possible.

Policies on biological protection and genetic conservation

As far as biological protection and genetic conservation of bamboo and rattan are concerned various government
policies and DENR administrative orders have been formulated and implemented (Lapis, 1998). These are as
follows:

1. RA 7586 (1992)

An act providing for the establishment and management of N atural Integrated Protected Areas System.

2. DAO 25 (1992)

The National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) implementing rules and regulations focusing on the twin
objectives of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

3. PD 1586 (1978)

Establishment of Environmental Impact Statement System

4. DAO 21 (1992)

Revision of rules and regulation on EIS System

5. DAO 96-37 (1996)

Revisions of DAO 21 (1992) to further strengthen the implementation of the E nvironmental Impact Statement
Statement
System.

6. EO 247 (1995)
Prescribing guidelines and establishing a regulatory framework for the prospecting of biological and genetic
resources, their by-products and derivations for scientific and commercial purposes.

7. DAO 96-20 (1996)

Implementing rules and regulations on the prospecting of biological and genetic resources.

Relevant studies under consideration

The forest charges presently obtained from the permittees may not reflect the true value o f the commodity produced,
in this case, bamboo and rattan. These products come from forest or public lands and are charged according to
diameter size, species and length. However, the other inputs to production have not been c onsidered particularly the
use of the land and the total economic value of the commodity.

A study is being p repared to review and assess the present forest charges pegged on bamboo and rattan with
consideration of the various valuation methods to arrive at the true value of bamboo and rattan.

INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY

Various government and non-government agencies/entities, state colleges, universities, and international agencies
have in one way or the other undertaken research and development activities to encourage and promote the ba mboo
and rattan sectors.

Academe
Research activities on bamboo and rattan are being undertaken by state colleges and universities in coordination
with government and private sectors. These include the University of the Philippines at Los Ba 駉s (UPLB), Benguet
State University (BSU), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Nueva Viscaya State Institute of Technology
(NVSIT), Tarlac College of Agriculture (TCA), Palawan National Agricultural College (PNAC), Panay State
Polytechnic College (PSPC), Mindanao State University (MSU) and Visayas State College of Agriculture (VISCA).

Government
AGENCY

College Industry and Technology Center Role in Bamboo and Rattan mandated to
(CITC) encourage and promote the establishment of 
micro cottage, and small enterprises and
improve product quality and productivity
towards global competitiveness for generating
employment and livelihood opportunities

Ecosystems Research and Development
Bureau (ERDB)
Ecosystems Research and Development
Sector (ERDS)
Both under DENR and support the R & D
activities of the forestry sector in the technical
socio-economic and marketing aspects of raw
materials
Forest Products Research and
Development Institute (FPRDI)
Technology Application and Promotions
Institute (TAPI)
Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Forestry and Natural Resources and
Development (PCARRD)
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
National Statistical Coordinating Board
(NSCB)
Non-Government Organization
NAME
Philippine Bamboo Society Baguio
Benguet Chapter
Iloilo Furniture Manufacturers
Association (IFMA)
Iloilo Manufacturers Multipurpose
Cooperative (IMMPC)
Aklan Furniture Makers Association
Under Department of Science and T echnology
(DOST) and undertakes R & D relating to
technical socio-economics and marketing
aspects of forest products particularly on post-
harvest and utilization.
Under DOST and is responsible for technology
commercialization
commercialization and promotion
Under DOST and responsible for R & D
evaluation monitoring providing financial,
support and promoting linkages among R & D
institutions and individuals
A major agency which has a number of bureaus
and attached agencies which directly affect the
bamboo and rattan industry. It coordinates,
promotes, facilitates the country 抯 trade
industry and investment activities.
Recognize and strengthen Philippine Statistical
System. Its objective is to achieve the
development of an orderly statistical system
capable of providing timely, accurate, sufficient
and useful data to suit planning, programming
and evaluation needs of all sectors of the
Philippine economy
ROLE
Supports the activities of the Philippine
Bambusetum in Baguio. There are only 11 officers
and members dominated by women with only one
male member. Membership comes from
government offices, NGOs, academe and private
entities.
Non-stock, non-profit organization which focuses
on Bamboo Development Project. It aims to
complement existing wood furniture production
optimize use of widely materials and skilled work 
force and penetrate new markets.
Cooperative organized by IFMA for undertaking
profit making initiatives. It focuses on penetrating
the export market through complementation
complementation and
specialization among members
Bamboo Development Cooperative in
Davao
Philippine Business for Social
Progress
Center of International Trade
Expositions and Mission, Inc.
(CITEM)
Industry Associations
NAME OF AGENCY
Chamber of Furniture Industries of the
Philippines
Philippine Chamber of Handicraft
Industries
Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industries
Confederation of Filipino Exporters
Foundation
Responsible for implementing marketing programs
that link livelihood activities for rural communities
for equitable markets. One of the major components
is the transfer of technologies including marketing
and business technologies to the clients.
Organizes trade fairs where Filipino exporters may
participate. The center consist of product officers
who assist foreign buyers in their inquiries and
maintains a permanent exhibit of Philippines export
products including bamboo and rattan based
products
FUNCTIONS/SERVICES PROVIDED
Group of furniture exporters whose mission is to
promote the continued growth of the Philippine
furniture industry. It also provides direction to its
development efforts. Serves as a forum for
industry related issues
Non-stock, non-profit organization which aims to
contribute to the growth of the Philippine
handicraft industry by promoting handicrafts in
both local and international markets
An umbrella private sector representative
organization with 139 sectoral trade associations
which provides trade opportunities and buyer-
seller matching services for its members and
foreign buyers. It also mounts overseas missions
and hosts incoming missions. Some bamboo and
rattan manufacturer-exporters
manufacturer-exporters are members of the
chamber
This is an industry association composed of 
private sector exporters. It is a non-stock, non-
profit service foundation which seeks to facilitate
exporters’ access to trade information and
technical services towards expanding and
diversifying markets. It also aims at organizing
Philippine exporters into a persuasive collective
advocate for policy and administrative
administrative reforms

European Chamber of Commerce of the
Philippines
Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation
Chamber of Cottage Industries of the
Philippines
Christmas Decor Producers and
Exporters Association of the Philippines
Private Sector
NEPA-Q-MART Industries Bamboo
Production Pilot Project headed by Atty.
Nereo J. Paculdo
Kawayan Farm c/o Engr. D.J. Alfonso
Mr. M. Caasi of Davao
Issues and Concerns, Recommended Solutions and R & D Strategies for the Bamboo and Rattan Sectors
ISSUE/CONCERN RECOMMENDED
SOLUTIONS
BAMBOO
Production
Lack of concerted planned
effort for bamboo
needed to transform the country into a progressive
nation. It provides trade opportunities and buyers-
sellers matching services and regular publications.
It also has regional networks. Some ba mboo and
rattan manufacturer exporters.
The only European bilateral chamber represented
in the Philippine and represents the interest of all
European countries as well as those Filipino
members. ECCP provides a full range of services
including personalized buyer-seller matching and
circulation of trade opportunities through the
regular publication
Gives out bamboo seedlings free of charge.
However, on the 4th year five seedlings for every
seedlings will be given back to NEPA-Q-MART
to again be distributed to other participants
Sells ready to plant bamboo propagules and offers
a training package on bamboo propagation
Provides technical assistance on bamboo growing.
He is known as 揵amboo king" who started
organizing farmers cooperative since 1989
R & D STRATEGIES
plantation development

delineation of areas for species-site matching

bamboo development
maintenance of Bambuseta
formulation of guidelines in
reforestation projects

strengthened IEC campaign

adequate technology transfer

mechanisms

provision of support services

(credit technical assistance
markets)

provision of incentives

premature harvesting as an
physiological properties-end
offshoot of increased
product matching
demand

R & D on physiological
aspects vis a vis market
research

Marketing

limited social acceptance of  increased IEC researches on the perception,

bamboo attitude and extension
strategies and other IEC
approaches

inadequate support services establishment

establishment of
o f strategically market research with some
located buying stations linear programming
accessible to all actors in the applications
bamboo industry

unorganized marketing organization of industry comprehensive

comprehensive market
system associations/societies research

market linkaging/ networking

through GO抯, NGO抯,
private/industry
private/industry sectors
unfavorable market
developments e.g. decline
in demand for banana
propping materials
no standards for grading
and classification of raw
materials
Utilization
products limited to
traditional uses
Policy
annual allowable cut (AAC)
Information Systems
inadequate information
system
RATTAN
Production
lack of concerted effort on
rattan plantation
diversification
diversification of uses of  market research
bamboo species
species/product matching
development of grading and R & D on grading and
classification
classification standards for classification
classification standards
raw materials
commercialization
commercialization of new
bamboo products
R & D on product
development of state-of-the- development designs
art technologies
conduct of seminars,
workshops, trainings
sponsored by government
and/or industry associations
conduct of policy studies to
determine the AAC based on
species, growth, yield, clump
development in relation to
climatic and edaphic factors
information systems analysis
establishment
establishment of a centralized
repository of bamboo
database on production,
management, marketing,
utilization
delineation of rattan seed plantation establishment of 
development
poor replanting programs if  development of support
any, by gatherers
long period of production
Marketing
value addition
dependence of gatherer
groups on advance
payments from outside
traders and purchasing
agents
production areas indigenous commercial
species of phenotypically
superior strains
facilities for producers of raw
materials
CBFM approach policy studies
gatherers must be encouraged
and assisted in developing
their replanting programs
through CBFM
CBFM approach
CBFM - incorporation of  R & D to determine the age of 
rattan with agroforestry maturity for rattan poles in
development schemes relation to the physiological
properties demanded by the
provision of alternative market
sources of livelihood
pilot testing of livelihood
projects
community enterprise Impact studies on:
development
gender
organization of cooperatives/ 
associations socio-economic parameters
environmental
environmental parameters
establishment
establishment of a central
marketing center same as
NATRIPAL in Palawan. It
reduces the extent to which
gatherers are controlled by
individual purchase contracts.
Gatherers are more free to
work according to their own
schedules against longer term
contracts with the marketing
organization while remaining
file to sell their poles to other
buyers when a more
profitable opportunity appears
in the short run (Kilmer,
1994)
Protection

poaching and illegal CBFM approach R & D efforts on efficient and

harvesting effective preservation
technology development technologies
limited/inadequate
preservation techniques

Tenure provision of ancestral domain researches on tenurial rights

claims to indigenous people
inadequate tenurial rights to
solicit increased and empowerment of 
sustained participation in communities
maintaining productivity of 
rattan areas

Information
Systems
establishment
establishment of a centralized information systems analysis
repository of rattan database
unorganized information on on production, management,
rattan resources marketing, utilization

Administrative

ineffective government assessment of existing policy studies

policies on the c utting, policies on
transporting and monitoring
of rattan and rattan - length of poles
activities marketed

- allowable cut

assessment of administrative
administrative
feasibility of policies

inappropriate forest charges updating of forest charges resource inventory

economic valuation studies

weak linkage between strengthening research

government and private collaboration among
sector government and private
institutions for a holistic
approach to rattan production
and utilization

Table 1. List of existing bamboo plantations in the Philippines

LOCATION OWNER SPECIES AREA(Ha)

Luzon
Isla Verde, Batangas City Jose Ma. Pastor Kauayan Tinik  50 
Pililia, Rizal Alfonso Domingo Kauayan Tinik  20 
Agno, Pangasinan Doctor's Farm Kauayan Tinik  5 
Pangasinan NEPA Q-Mart Bayog and Botong  50 
Coron, Palawan Francisco Fernada Kauayan Tinik  5 
Del Monte, Bulacan Sighn Bambusetum Kauayan Tinik  20 
Bula, Camarines Sur Mike Laya Kauayan Tinik  and
Kauayan Buddha 4 
Laguna Various Private Groups K. Tinik , Giant 890a/ 
bamboo
and 80% Laak 

Sub-total 1043
Visayas
Murcia, Negros Occ. R. Jalandoni Kauayan Tinik  160 
Murcia, Negros Occ. T. Trebol Kauayan Tinik  20 
Murcia, Negros Occ. N. L. Agustin Farms Kauayan Tinik  30 
Isabela, Negros Occ. R. Suatenco Kauayan Tinik  5 
La Castellana, Negros Occ. Ferria Farms Kauayan Tinik  14 
Manapla, Negros Occ. Lamata Farms Kauayan Tinik  14 
Cadiz, Negros Occ. Mirasol Kauayan Tinik  10 
Victoria, Negros Occ. Maravilla Farms Kauayan Tinik  10 
Moises Padilla Negros Occ. Feria Farms Kauayan Tinik  7 
Valladolid, Negros Occ. Mayor Presbitero Kauayan Tinik  2 
Dingle, Iloilo Hermontt Enterprise Kauayan Tinik  8 
Duenas, Iloilo Paterno Larida Kauayan Tinik  10 
Anilao, Iloilo Maravila Enterprise Giant Bamboo 10
Guimaras SMILE Giant Bamboo 12
Sub-total 312
Mindanao
Panabo, Davao N. TADECO Spiny, Laak , Lunas 140
Davao del Norte Nest Farm Spiny, Laak , Lunas 161
Panabo, Davao N. DAPECOL Spiny, Laak , Lunas 303
Davao del Norte WADECOR Spiny, Laak , Lunas 80
Davao del Norte F. S. Dizon & Sons Inc. Spiny, Laak  110
Davao del Norte AMS-FC Davao del Norte Spiny, Laak  100
Davao del Norte SFC, Davao del Norte Laak  5 
Davao CFI, Agusan del Norte Laak  12 
Davao del Norte Davao Fruits Corp. Laak  434 
Davao del Norte Twin River Plantation Inc. Laak  132 
Pandadan, Tagum D. N. Caasi Farm Laak  5 
San Isidro, Nabunturean D. N. Caasi Farm Kayali  10 
Piang Village, T'boli S. Cot. P. R. Virrey Laak  2 
Mati, Davao Oriental Rabat Tini, botong  5 
Compostela, Montevista D. N. CBMC Laak  186 
Sub-total 1,685
Grand Total 3,040
Sources: Virtucio and Rivera (1995), Pastor (1995), Alfonso (1995), Caasi (1994), Uriarte and Marquez, C. (1995),
Basada et al
1997, and Binoya 1997 consultant 1997

a/ Based on the 255,000 seedlings planted as of February 1997 through Kawayan: Yaman Laguna Project by
private
individuals and organizations at survival rate of 70% and 200 planst/ha

bookUa.xls sheet 2

Table 2. Estimated total aggregate area planted to erect bamboos and pole/culm
production
in the Philippines from various sources a/ 

Estimated Total Estimated Total Estimated Total

Source/Origin Aggregate Area Number of Clumps Culm Productivity
Planted (Has) (in million) per year (in million)
Has % of Clumps % of Culms % of
Total
Total Total

Forest Lands 20,500 - 52.3 - 4.10 - 68.70 20.5 - 68.7-

34,000 64.50 6.80 64.5 34.0 64.8

Government 2,236 5.7 - 4.2 0.2236 - 3.7 - 4.2 1,118 - 3.7-4.2

Plantations

Private 3,040 7.7 -5.8 0.337 - 5.1 - 5.8 1,520 - 5.1-

Plantation
 0.6074 3,040 5.8

"Natural 13,435 34.3 - 25.5 1.343 - 22.5 - 6,715 - 22.5-

Stand" b/ 
2.687 25.5 13,435 25.5

TOTAL 39,211 - 100 5.9703 - 100 29,817 - 100

52,711 10.5416 52,653

a/ Estimated by the consultant

b/ Existing bamboo stands found growing sporadically or in patches in the backyards and/or along riverbanks

in either public or private land not covered by forest and established plantations.
plantations.

priceUc.xls sheet 2

Table 3. Extent, distribution and production of bamboo from forest lands, 1996,
Philippines.
Region Bamboo produced (pc)

CAR 29,474
Abra 14,369
Benguet 942
Ifugao 33
Kalinga-Apayao 14,130

I 82,370
Ilocos Norte 42,400
Ilocos Sur 39,970

III 1,500
Zambales 1,500
IV-A 950
Quezon 950

V 58,913
Albay 3
Camarines Sur 58,910

XI 453,682
Davao del Norte 377,343
Davao del Sur 14,206
Davao Oriental 49,050
Saranggani Province 8,653
South Cotabato 4,430
TOTAL 626,889
Source: 1996 Philippine Forestry Statistics

bam/Ua.xls sheet 1

Table 4. Number of Philippine Bamboos taxonomically recognized and/or

published by various authors.

Authors/Number of Species
Genera Gamble Merrill Santos Pancho and PCARRD
(1916) (1923) (1986) Obien (1988) (1991)
Arundinaria 1 1 - 3 3
Bambusa 5 5 + 1 var. 7 + 1 var. 6 +1 var. 14 + 2 vars.
Cephalustachyum 1 1 1 - 1
Chimonobambusa - - - - -
Dendrocalamus 2 1 3 3 4
Dinochloa 4 + 1 var. 4 3 - 4
Gigantochloa 1 1 1 - 2
Guadua - 1 - - -
Phyllostachys - - - 3 3
Pleioblastus - - - - -
Pseudosasa - - - - -
Pseudostachyum - - 1 - -
Racemobambos - - - - -
Sasa - - - - -
Sasaella - - - - -
Schizostachyum 10 10 8 1 11
Shibataea - - - - -
Sphaerobambos - - - - 1
Thyrsostachys - - - 1 1
Yushania - - 1 - 1
TOTAL 19 25 25 26 18 47

Table 5. Bamboos reported found in the Philippines as of 1996 (Rojo, 1996)

Scientific Name Common Name Habit Uses Origin

1. Arundinanaamabilisauct.
Arundinanaamabilisauct. ... Erect Ornamental Chile

2. A. arqenteostriata
arqenteostriata (Regel) Ohwi Variegated dwarf  Erect Ornamental Nativ
bamboo
3. A, graminea (Bean) Makino Taimin-chiku or tsusi- Erect Ornamental Nativ
chiku

4. A^ pygmaea (Miq.) Mitt. Dwarf bamboo Erect Ornamental Nativ

5. Bambusa atra Undley Loleba Erect Basketry, handicraft New

South

6- B. bambos (L.) Voss Syn. B.

B . arundinacea India Bamboo Erect Multipurpose: edible shoots, India t
(Retzius) Wilid. household uses, basic construction China
material
B. spinosa Roxb.

7. B blumeana J. A. & J. H. Schultes Syn. B. Kauayan tinik  Erect Multipurpose: edible shoots, Nativ
spinosa Roxb. sensu MeiTill basketry, constructuon material, Sunda
household uses, pulp and paper Philip

 B pungens Blanco Bambus arundo Blanco

8. B. comuta Munro Syn. B. horsfieldii Lopa Erect Household use Nativ

Munro Vizca
9. B. dolichoclada Hayata Chinese bamboo Erect Construction purposes, agricultural Ende
tools, windbreaks
10. B.dolichomerithalla Hayata Taiwan bamboo Erect Ornamental; in Taiwan as blow pipes Ende

11. B. floribunda Nakai 12. B. merrilli Memll bamboo Erect Erect Ornamental Household use Proba
Gamble Philip

13. B. multiplex (Lour.) Kauayan-tsina Erect Excellent hedges and as ornamental

Raeuschel ex. J. A. & J. H. Schultes Syn. el nana Roxb. B.

alaucescens (Wilid.) Sieb. Ex Munro

14. B. oldharnii Munro

15. B. tulda Roxb.

Construction purposes

Oldham bamboo Erect Construction, edible shoots, household use, handicrafts,

16. B. tuldoides Munro Syn. B. ventricosa McClure windbreaks
Spineless India Erect
17. B. utilis Lin bamboo

Buddha bamboo Ornamental, hedges, handicrafts, farm implements

implements
Erect
18. el vulaaris Schrader ex Wendland

(There exist three groups of this species namely: green culm Taiwan useful Windbreaks, for farm implements, building and
group, yellow culm group and Buddha's belly group called bamboo supporting poles, edible shoots.
wamin in Burma). Erect

Kauayan-kiling The most used of all bamboos, rather rarely used as

19.Cephalustachvum
19.Cephalustachvum mindorense Gamble construction material because it is susceptible to
powder post beetle attack.
20. Chimonobambusa falcata Mak.

21. Dendrocalamus asper (Schultes f.) Backer ex Heyne Erect

Syn. D. merrillianus
merrillianus (Elmer) Elmer sensu Dransfield & Widjaja
(1995)

Can probably used for making kaing

Mindoro bikal or
bakto

Subscandent or semi-erec
Ornamental
---

Erect
Building material for houses: edible shoots
Erect

Giant bamboo
22. D. aiganteus Wallich ex Munro
23. D. latifloms Munro
(This species was introduced in the 1970's.
Gamble's D. latiflorus was reduced b y Merrill
to G. levis)
Giant bamboo Erect Construction material, edible Southern Burma and Western Thailan
shoots, thich culm wall good for
production of bamboo boards,
etc. as well as for ornamental
puroposes.
No precise origin. Distributed from B
Most important for its young
Machiku Erect shoot which is considered
delicious, also household use
and construction purposes.

24. D. memllianus (Elmer) Elmer. (In the

sense of Dransfield and Widjaja thus species
is reduced to D. asper). Syn. D. parviflorus
Hack. Endemic to the Philippines
Philippines

Construction material, farm

implements

Bayog (Note: Bayog, as we Erect

25. D. strictus (Roxb.) Nees
have known it , does not
botanically belong to Dendro-
calamus. It is tentatively
designated as Bambusa spec.
1)

Solid bamboo Widespread and native in India, Nepa

26. Dinochloa dielseana Pilger Endemic to the Philippines

Philippines

27. D. elmeri Gamble Endemic to the Philippines

Philippines

28. D_ luconiae (Munro) Merr. Syn. D. Tagisi Used for many purposes such as Native to Borneo and the Philippines
Philippines
aguilarii Elmer D. scandens var. angustifolia
angustifolia building materials, furniture,
Merr. basketry, mats, agricultural
Elmer bikal Erect
implements,
implements, rafts and wares.
29. D_ oblonga S. Dransf.
Osiu .
General purpose
30. D. palawanensis (Gamble) S. Dransf.
Endemic to Palawan
No known uses.
31. D, pubiramea (Blume) 0. Kuntze
Climbing Endemic to Palawan
For fences, basketry, household
use.
Climbing

Palawan bukaui Climbing Native, also Bormeo

Palawan bikal

Maybe put to use as bikal

Bukau

Maybe put to use as bikal

Climbing

Climbing
General purpose, baskets

Climbing
32. Giaantochloa after (Hassk.) Kurz Kayali Erect Building materials, household utensils, basketry, Origin is unknown. Cultiv
handicrafts. Philippines (Davao).
33. G. levis (Blanco) Memll Syn. Dendrocalamus
curranii Construction of rural houses, furniture, rafts, fish No known origin. Commo
traps, fish pens, outriggers, edible shoots. and Western Borneo.
Bolo, botong, patong Erect
Gamble D. scribneriana Merr.

34. Guadua anaustifolia

anaustifolia Kunth
Ornamental Colombia
35. G. anaustifolia Kunth var. bicolor Londofto
Ornamental Colombia
--- Erect
36. Phyllostachys aurea Carr. Ex A. & C. Riviere
Syn. P_ bambusoides
bambusoides Sieb. & Zucc. var. aurea
Makino --- Erect

Ornamental garden plant, also hedges, walking Probably originated from t

37. P. humilis Muroi sticks, umbrella handles, novelties and Japan

38. P_ niara (Lodd. Ex Lindi.) Munro Running bamboo Erect

39. P. pubescens Maze! ex H. de Leh.

40. Pleioblastus aroentostraitus auct. forma akebeno --- ---

41. P.chino Makino forma eleaantissimus

eleaantissimus forma Ornamental, also musical instruments and Introduced probably from
pumilus forma pyamaeus handicrafts, walking sticks and pipe stems.
--- Erect
42. P. distichus Muroi & Okamura Edible shoots.
Black bamboo Erect Warm temperate part of C
43. P_ fortunei auct. cv. fortunei Ornamental
Japan
Ornamental
Edible bamboo Erect Japan
Ornamental
Akebono-nesasa Erect Japan
Ornamental
Kamoro-sasa Erect Japan
Ornamental
Gori-dake Japan

Ke-oroshimasasa
Ornamental
Oroshima-chiku Erect Japan

Chigo-zasa Erect
44. Pseudosasa amabilis auct. Cha'D- Erect Ornamental Japan
konchuck 
45. Pseudostachvum
Pseudostachvum polymorphum Munro Erect Ornamental Japan
Bayto
46. Racemobambos hirsuta Hoittum

47. Sasa kurilensis (Rupr.) Mak. Et Shibata Climbing General purpose Palawan and
---
48. S. nipponica Mak.

49. S. palmata Nakai Erect Ornamental Japan, Chile

Chisima-
zasa
50. Sasaella ramosa (Mak.) Mak. Et Shibata Japan

51. Schizostachvum brachviadum Kurz (Reduced to S. lima Erect Ornamental

sensu Memll).
Miyako-
zasa Erect Ornamental Japan, Chile
52. Schizostachvum
Schizostachvum brachviadum Gamble

Chimaki- Erect Ornamental Japan, Chile

53. S, diffusum (Blanco) Merr. zasa

54. S. fenixii Gamble Uzuma-

zasa Erect Ornamental, split culms for roofing, South-East
55. S^ lima (Blanco) Merr. Syn. sl zollinaeri Merr. S. handicrafts,
handicrafts, props, etc. Java, Celebe
hallieri Gamble B. lima Blanco

56. S^ lumampao (Blanco) Merr. Syn. S^ hirtiflorum

hirtiflorum Hack. Bohong
S^ mucronatum Hack. dilau Maybe put to use as bikal Endemic to t

57. S. luzonicum Gamble Climbing

58. S. textorium (Blanco) Merr. Syn. S. merrilli Gamble

Sometimes for kaing making Endemic to t
Climbing
Curran Fences, other uses. Endemic to t
bikal
Climbing
Material for housign, like sawali-making, Native to Bo
musical instruments,
instruments, fishing rods, etc. Solomon Is.
Erect

Bikal

Puser For sawali-making, basketry, fences, flutes, Endemic to t

handicraft and many other uses.
Anos
Erect Could be put to use as bikal
Endemic to t
Could be put to use as bikal
Endemic to t
Climbing

Boho
Erect

Luzon bikal

Kalbam\ng
59. S. toppinaii Gamble Topping bikal Climbing May be put to use as bikal Endemic to the Philippines

60. Sphaerobambos
Sphaerobambos philippinensis
philippinensis Laak  Erect General purpose, banana props,
(Hayata) Keng f. (formerly used as kauayan-kiling
kauayan-kiling Endemic to the Philippines (Dava
Arundinaria niikatavamensis
niikatavamensis
Hayata). (Note: the Laak which Mr.
Caasi extensively used in his
bamboo farm in Davao does
not botanically belong to
Sphaerobambos but now
tentatively designated as
Bambusa spec. 2.)

Thailand bamboo

Utod

61. Thrsostachvs siamensis

Gamble

House construction, household Native to Burma and Thailand wh

uses, baskets, handicrafts,
Erect chopsticks, pulp and paper,
62. Yushania niitakavamensis
niitakavamensis ornamental windbreak 
(Hayata) Keng f. (formerly
Arundinaria niikatavamensis
niikatavamensis
Erosion control, ornamental in Native to Taiwan and the Philippi
low temperature area and above altitude)

Erect

Table 6. Twelve economically important Philippine bamboos according to UNDP/FAO

Bamboo R & D Project conducted by the Ecosystems Research and Development
Bureau (ERDB)

Scientific Name Common name

1. Bambusa blumeana Kauayan tinik

2. B. Vulgaris Kauayan-kiling

3. B. spec 1 (Dendrocalamus Bayog

merrillianus)

4.Dendrocalamus asper
Giant bamboo
5. D. Latiflorus
Machiku (called Botong in Davao)
6. Gigantochloa levis
Bolo, botong
7. Schizostachyum lumampao

8. S. lima (Blanco) Merr.

Buho
9. S. brachycladum Kurz
Anos
10. G. Alter(Hassk.)Kurz
Bulo Padi
11. B_ dolichoclada Hayata
Kayali
12. B_ oldhami (Munroe) Me
Clure Look

Moroku-Chiku

Table 9
PROJECTED DEMAND FOR RATTAN POLES BASED ON PROJECTED
VALUE EXPORTS, 1990-2015 a/ 

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 2000

Value of Exports (US$'000,000) 163.6 180.0 198.0 215.7 239.5 263.5 336.3 b/ 

Rattan poles (million lm) 212.7 234.0 257.4 283.0 311.4 342.6 437.2
Large Diameter Rattan (40% of
requirement) 85.1 93.6 103.0 113.2 124.6 137.0 174.9
Small Diameter Rattan (60% of
requirement) 127.6 140.4 154.4 169.8 186.8 205.6 262.3
 a/ Raw materials requirement is based on 1.3 lm of rattan for every
US$1.0 sales.
b/ Estimate of annual growth of export value from 1996 to 2005 decreases to 5% annually due to
competition from Indonesia
c/ From 2006 to 2015, the estimate
estim ate of annual growth increases to 8%. It is expected that new markets will have been fou
developed.

Source: DENR. 1990. Master Plan for Forestry

Development (Rattan)

priceUc.xls sheet3

Table 15. Socio-economic characteristics of bamboo participants, lloilo. Negros Occidental and Abra.
1995

MARKET PARTICIPANT/ITEM NUMBER REPORTING PERCENT

Producers of raw materials 58

Education: 7 42
Elementary
Secondary to 5 57
College
4 43
Annual
income from 4 71
bamboo (P):
P5.000 and
below 10 29
P5.001 to
20,000 4

Other
sources of
income

Farming

Non-Farming
Gatherers 9 50

Education: 9 50
Elementary
15 83
Secondary to
Vocational 3 183

Household 12 67
size: 1-6
6 33
7-9
8 73
Member involved in bamboo activity:
3 27
1-4

None

Annual income from bamboo:

P3.000 and below

Greater than P3.000

Trader 7 26

Education: Elementary 20 74

18 67
Secondary to College

Household size: 1-6 9 33

7 63
7-12

10 37
Member involved in bamboo activity:

8 42
1. 7

None 7 37

Annual income from bamboo: 4 21

PI 0,000 and below

PIO.OOI-30,000

P30,000-50,000
 Manufacturers Annual income from
bamboo:
25
PI0,000 and below
4 19
PIO.OOI-20,000
3 56
Greater than P20.000
9

Labor Force 35

Sex: Male 15 65
Female
28 19
Education:
Elementary 8 81

Secondary to 35 81
Vocational
8 19
Primary
source of 21 51
income:
20 49
Bamboo
activities

Farming and
others

Annual
income from
bamboo:

PI 5,000 and
below

Greater than
PI 5,000

Source of basic data: Rivera and Austria, 1996

Table 17. Wages received byworkers in rattan gathering, trading, m anufacturing and

exporting, Philippines.

ACTIVITY/YEAR CITED BY SOURCE WAGES RECEIVED (P/DAY) LEGISLATED MINIMUM WAGE

(P/DAY)
Gathering Kilmer (1994) 100 ($4.00) a/  101.33 b/ 

Trading Manufactured Products: 100 ($4.00) c/ Full-time-51.17 Part-time

Part-time 101.3 b/ 55.00-56.00
Furniture/Handicraft
Furniture/Handicraft Kilmer (1994) - 47.17 Piecework - 50.00 Average -
Manufacturing 45.50

Furniture: Pabuayon, 1. M. et. al. [1986-87]

Lapis (1998) Average - 40.50

Handicraft: Pabuayon, 1. M. et. al. [1986-87] Full-time - 40.33 Piecework - 31.00

Average - 35.67

Geonzon, Z. L. [1987] 55.17 d/  57.66

Kilmer (1994) 100 ($4.00) C/  101.33 b/ 

Lapis (1998) 299.7 e/ 

a/ Kilmer, G. D. (1994) - Based on an estimated total earning of $3.3 million/year or $220/worker and work of

average of 4 days/month (55 days/year) (Exchange rate used in the study: P25/US$1.00) b/ Average legislated minimum wage for 1993 c/ 
Based on total earnings of $60M for a total of 100,000 workers, with working days of 150/year

(Exchange rate used in the study is same as a/ 

d/ Based on daily average receipts of weavers of round, oval and pyramid shaped baskets in Tayabas, Quezon. e/ Based on a dai ly earnings
of P650.000 for 2169 workers.

Foreign Exchange Rates: 1986: P20.40/US$1.00 1987: P20.56/US$1.00

P20.56/US$1.00 1993: P26.73/US$1.00
P26.73/US$1.00

Table
18

Table 18 CHARACTERISTICS OF DISADVANTAGED GROUP IN THE B &

R SECTOR, PHILIPPINES

RATTAN BAMBOO
 Number  15,000 undetermined rural villages

rural villages, foothills 35

Location
29 6
Average age
5 temporary/semi-permanent
Household farming
size Housing temporary/semi-permanent
farming alienable & disposable, titled
Major occupation
Land ownership no legal claims: forest areas 2.33 ha (palins)
Farm area Farm 2.17 ha (uplands)
output home use and sale
home use
Cash income/year P33.522
Prop. of income P20.642
from B & R B & R
14%
activities
16%
cutting, lopping, culm, topping,
Rice yield
cutting, hauling, primary hauling
processing
Fertilizer use
2.35 tons

none to minimal

1.7 tons

none to minimal

Source of basic data: Aquino, D. (1993); Table 3 from Pabuayon (1995)

Table 20
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RATTAN BASED HANDICRAFT SELLERS AND
BUYERS, TAYABAS, QUEZON, AND METRO MANILA, 1987
CHARACTERISTICS NO. OF MARKET PARTICIPANTS
SELLER BUYER ALL

Number reporting 20 25
Average age (years) 42 42
Year established
1970-75 5 - 5
1976-80 3 5
1981-85 7 10
1986-87 5 - 5

Type of ownership
Single proprietor 19 20
Partnership - -
Corporation 1 5

Type of business
management
Owner 19 5 24
Hired 1 - 1

Average capital (P 000) (n=20) (n=5)

Initial 41 494 130
Present 189 1,413 412

Educational attainment
Elementary a/  2 2
High school b/  6 6
College 2 2
College graduate 9 5 14
Post-graduate c/  1 1

a/ Includes both elementary graduate and below

b/ Between first year high school and high school graduate

c/ One with some units in graduate studies.

Source: Geonzon, Z. L. (1988)

characUc.xls sheet 1

Table 21
DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RATTAN TRADERS
BY TYPE OF PRODUCT HANDLED, LUZON, 1987
 CHARCTERISTICS FURNITURE HANDICRAFT ALL
Number reporting 18 37 55
Manila 6 15 21
Angeles 9 12 21
Pampanga 3 - 3
Baguio - 10 10

Average age (years) 35 36 36

Average years in business 5 5 5
Years established
1975-1980 7 9 16
1981-1987 11 28 39

Type of respondent
Wholesaler-retailer 2 3 5
Retailer 15 28 43
Exporter 1 6 7

Type of ownership
Single Proprietorship 18 32 50
Corporation - 5 5

Nature of operation a,b/ 

Purchase from source
upon
order of costumer 17 20 37
Maintain a given level of
stock 8 27 35

Average capital (P'000) 74 220 172

Membership in association
a,c/ 
CFIP 1 - 1
PCCI - 3 3
Others 2 2 4
None 15 32 47
Other sources of income
a,b/ 
Selling wood
furniture/handicraft
and other products made
of buri,
shell, bamboo and 15 21 36
macrame
Others (garments, electric
appliances, farming, air-
freight
forwarding) 3 7 10

None 2 9 11
a/ Number reporting

b/ Some respondents gave more than one answers

c/ CFIP - Chamber of Furniture Industries of the

Philippines
PCCI - Philippine Chamber of Commerce and
Industries
Others include FOBAP, Hardkins,
etc.
Source: Pabuayon, I. M., G. G. Rosario and I. H. Manalo (1988) characUc.xls sheet 2

Table 22
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF B/R-BASED FURNITURE
MANUFACTURER-EXPORTERS, PHILIPPINES
CHARACTERISTICS NUMBER PERCENT (%)
REPORTING
Business status
Corporation 12 92
Partnership 1 8
Total 13 100
Year established
Before 1970 1 8
1970-1975 1 8
1976-1980 2 15
1981-1985 5 38
1986-1991 4 31
Total 13 100
Capital Equity (n=13)
(million pesos) 12.78
Number of employees (ave) 342
Permanent staff 89
Contractual staff 253

Professional Membership a/  (n=13)

CFIP 11 85
ECCP 5 38
PhilExport 7 54
CITEM 1 8
PCCI 1 8
Cebu FIP 1 8
Valenzuela Chamber of Commerce 1 8

Major Export Markets USA, European countries, Japan,

Australia,
Middle East, etc.,

Major Export Products Rattan-based furniture, or a combination of

rattan/wicker-metal, bamboo, leather,
wrought
iron-based furniture and accessories

Major raw and intermediate materials/ 

goods used
100% raw materials 2 15
Combination of raw materials (less
than 100% domestic) 11 85

No imported materials 5 38
With imported materials 8 62

Business Plan Utilization of Free Capacities Penetration

of new
Sales Expansion markets with present products in European
Diversification countries, Japan, Middle East, USA,
Germany, etc.
a/ Total may not add to 100% due to multiple answers
Source: International Trade Group/BBTP-Philippine German Export

Export Development Project, DTI (1994) Furniture Industry Sector Profile charac.Uc.xls
charac.Uc.xls s 3

Table 23
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF B/R-BASED HANDICRAFT
MANUFACTURER-EXPORTERS, PHILIPPINES
CHARACTERISTIC NUMBER REPORTING
Business status
Corporation 2
Partnership 2
Total 4
Year established
1973 2
1983-1984 2
Total 4
Capital Equity (n=4)
(million pesos) 3.3

Number of employees (ave) 70

Permanent staff 26
Contractual staff 44

Professional Membership a/  (n=4)

PCHI 2
BCCP 2
PhilExport 1
CITEM 1
Phil. World Trade Foundation 2

Major Export Markets USA, Europe, Japan,

Australia, Asia

Major Export Products Potteries, baskets,

placemats and accessories,
tin containers, decors
Major raw and intermediate materials/ 
goods used
100% raw materials 2
Combination of raw materials (less
than 100% domestic) 2

No imported materials 4

Business Plan Utilization of Free Capacities

Penetration of new
Sales Expansion markets with present
products in European
Diversification countries, Japan, Middle
East, USA,
Germany, etc.
a/ Total may not add to 100% due to multiple answers

Source: International Trade Group/BBTP-Philippine German Export Development Project,

DTI (1994). Christmas/Holiday Decors and Basketwares - Industry Sector Profile

charac.Uc.xls
charac.Uc.xls sheet 4

Table 26
Price, Cost and Income Structure of Amas, Palawan, Philippines, September 1993
Item 1 1/8 - 1 1/4" 3/4 - 1" 5/8" 1/2"
Cost Percent Cost Percent Cost Percent Cost Percent
Per pole

Selling price a/  12.00 6.50 3.00 2.00

Buying price a/  5.00 52.30 3.50 43.97 1.50 25.60 1.00 18.83

Transport 1 b/  0.59 6.17 0.59 7.41 0.59 10.07 0.59 11.11
Scraping c/  0.50 5.23 0.40 5.03 0.30 5.12 0.25 4.71
Bundling d/  0.50 5.23 0.50 6.28 0.50 8.53 0.50 9.42
Cash-in-site e/  0.09 0.94 0.09 1.13 0.09 1.54 0.09 1.69
Cash-in-CENRO f/  0.25 2.62 0.25 3.14 0.25 4.27 0.25 4.71
Forest charges g/  0.67 7.01 0.67 8.42 0.67 11.43 0.67 12.62
Transport 2 h/  0.34 3.56 0.34 4.27 0.34 5.80 0.34 6.40
Cash-in-pier
Brooke's Point i/  0.25 2.62 0.25 3.14 0.25 4.27 0.25 4.71
Arrast re-Brooke's
point j/  0.12 1.26 0.12 1.51 0.12 2.05 0.12 2.26
FOB k/  0.69 7.22 0.69 8.67 0.69 11.77 0.69 12.99
Cash-in-pier
Manila l/  0.09 0.94 0.09 1.13 0.09 1.54 0.09 1.69
Transport 3 m/  0.42 4.39 0.42 5.28 0.42 7.17 0.42 7.91
Arrast re-Manila n/  0.05 0.52 0.05 0.63 0.05 0.85 0.05 0.94

Total Expenses o/  9.56 100.00 7.96 100.00 5.86 100.00 4.31 100.00

Income (loss)/ROI 2.44 25.52 (1.46) (18.34) (2.86) (48.81) (2.31) (53.60)

a/ In Philippine pesos per pole; based on a shipment of 6,000 limuran poles (12 ft) to Manila.

b/ From harvest area to association's warehouse, P600 for jeepney rental of 1,000 pole capacity and P0.50 per pole

for a carabao-led bamboo cart.

c/ Drying and straightening

d/ Classifying and cutting of poles into appropriate sizes, 50 poles in each bundle.

e/ "Grease money" of P500.00 paid to the CENRO Inspector who determines the species, diameter and volume in lineal meters

f/ P1,500 paid to the CENRO for processing the necessary documents for the transport of rattan.

g/ P4,000 for the total volume of 6,000 poles assessed at 8,000 lineal meters, i. e, P0.50 per pole.

h/ P2,000 for transport from the warehouse to Brooke's Point pier

i/ "Grease money" of P1,500 divided as follows: P500 for DENR, P500 for the Philippine Ports Authority and P500 for

the Coast Guard

 j/ Total of
of P714.

k/ P4,150 for 6,000 poles not placed in c ontainer.

l/ "Grease money" of P500 paid to DENR and PPA personnel.

m/ From the Manila pier to the buyer's warehouse

n/ P300 at the Manila Pier

o/ Includes the buying price.

Note: Amas is a rattan gatherers association awarded a rattan cutting contract by the government.

Source of basic data: UNAC, PBSP (September 1993)

priceUc.xls sheet 1