MAKATI CITY — The Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) convened on December 22, 2022 at Makati City, Metro Manila, upon the invitation of Secretary Alfredo Pascual who chairs the Council.
DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual underscored the importance of sustained synergy among member agencies to achieve the vision for the industry.
The DTI informed the council members of the ongoing collaboration with PCAARRD and UPLB involving an inventory management system and a database management system, which will finally address the long time concern of lack of a reliable database for the industry. The project aims to develop a harmonized system for the inventory of bamboo that will engage communities to ensure sustainability and timeliness of inventory information in key bamboo production areas in the country.
Meanwhile, other council members also provided updates on their plans and accomplishments. Ms. Lucila Roselle L. Balancio, the DA’s Project Development Officer reported on the DA’s Production Support Services for the Implementation of Community/Farmer Level Development Projects which provided 125 industry stakeholders with 22,125 bamboo planting supplies, 9 bamboo nurseries, 4 drip irrigation managed plantations, 265 agricultural machinery and equipment, and 17 units of irrigation equipment.
PCAARRD’s Executive Director, Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, presented a report on their R&D initiatives on bamboo and the bamboo S&T Roadmap for the period 2022–2028. The said roadmap’s objectives include developing high-capacity process equipment, adding value to bamboo poles and shoots, as well as producing policy outcomes for sustained bamboo production, management, and usage.
Deogracias Victor “DV” Savellano, who was re-appointed as Vice-chair of the PBIDC, reported the Council’s accomplishment highlights including the activities and projects that were implemented by Kilusang 5K which he heads.
Meantime, Philexport Chairman Sergio Ortiz Luis pledged a sustained funding for the office administrative costs of the Council. He also moved for the confirmation of the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines as NGO representative to the council. CFIP was represented by Chairman Arnulfo Milambiling.
Among the meeting attendees were key officers from DA, DOST-PCAARRD, DOLE, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, PhilExport, PBFI, PCCI, CFIP, Kilusang 5K Foundation, DTI ROG, DTI- R3, DTI-NCRO, and DTI-R2. #
Date of release: 05 January 2023