The Department of Science and Technology-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) is pursuing an industry-wide research project to understand how it can further bolster the viability of Laguna’s bamboo growers, manufacturers, artisans and traders.

DOST-FPRDI Director Romulo Aggangan on Wednesday told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the agency has been given a budget of PHP2.1 million to carry out an in-depth study on the agricultural and business side of the bamboo industry.

“The project has so far mapped out the industry and analyzed the constraints facing different bamboo stakeholders — from farmers and suppliers, to the market and end-users,” he said.

Aggangan added that his office has also studied the current status and prospects of each bamboo enterprise, and consequently identified firm-level and industry-wide interventions based on their needs.

“There are 95 bamboo-based businesses in the province (Laguna)… which suggests how much potential the province has in terms of developing its bamboo industry thru the support of the local government unit (LGU) and other private and government organizations,” he said.

FPRDI recently hosted a forum attended by 28 bamboo enterprises and 70 local government unit (LGU) representatives from the province and “served as a venue for the bamboo enterprises to receive interventions and to establish linkages in accordance with the project objectives,” Aggangan said.

It successfully united local bamboo enterprises, farmers, LGUs, and other relevant NGAs (non-government agencies) to address the “fragmented” industry state.

“The event enhanced the industry’s development by encouraging cooperation among its stakeholders,” he said.

He shared that the research project targeted to end this October, has two main components: an industry/value chain study and the provision of interventions to selected enterprises, in hopes of enhancing the growth of the industry.

Meanwhile, Aggangan also revealed that there was a proposal for the establishment of a Laguna Bamboo Industry Development Council, submitted by former DOST-FPRDI director Florentino Tesoro, who is the current chair of the Bamboo Professionals, Inc.

The proposal is under review by the Laguna provincial government. (PNA)