September of every year will be celebrated as “Philippine Bamboo Month” based on Proclamation No. 1401 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday.

Duterte recognized the “need to instill in the national consciousness of the Filipino people the importance of the bamboo plant and its products”

“I, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and existing laws, do hereby declare the month of September of every year as Philippine Bamboo Month,” read the proclamation released on Tuesday.

The proclamation directs the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) to lead and promote the observance of Philippine Bamboo Month and identify the programs, projects, and activities for its yearly celebration.

All other agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges are directed and all local government units, relevant non-government organizations and civil society groups, as well as the private sector, encouraged to support the PBIDC.

Executive Order No. 879 in 2010 created the PBIDC to promote the product development of bamboo and enhance market access to bamboo products, for the purpose of sustaining and strengthening the bamboo industry.

Bamboo has been identified by the Department of Trade and Industry as one of the right priority industry clusters.

Parts of the bamboo plant are being used not only for nourishment and construction of simple infrastructure, but also in producing world-class furniture and handicrafts. (PNA)