BAMBOO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM1 by HONORABLE MARIO G.

MONTEJO Secretary, Department of Science and Technology Republic of the Philippines Honorable Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr Honorable Secretary Gregory L. Domingo of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Chair of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC) Honorable Secretary Ramon J. Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Honorable Secretary J. R. Nerius O. Acosta, Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection and General Manager Laguna Lake Development Authority Our Keynote Speaker, Dr. I. V. Ramanuja Rao, Director Livelihoods and Economic Development Programme,

International Network for Bamboo and Rattan Distinguished Members of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council, Partners from the Bamboo Industry, Members of the Academe and Scientific Community, Members of the Media and other Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good morning!
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The Department of Science and Technology is the premier science and technology body in the country which provides central direction, leadership, and coordination of all scientific and technological activities and formulates policies, programs, and projects to support national development.

Executive Order 879 promulgated on May 14, 2010 tasked DOST to undertake research and transfer of technologies related to efficient bamboo processing and use. It is in the above context, that DOST aims to provide assistance to the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Program. ___________________________________
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Paper presented during the Philippine Bamboo Congress held

on October 2, 2012, Hall D, World Trade Center, Pasay City

The Departments support to the bamboo industry goes a long way back. Since its establishment in 1957, FPRDI, our line agency for the forest products processing, has already conducted around 100 basic and applied projects on bamboo. Basic research determined the anatomical, pulping, and chemical preservation characteristics of several bamboo species, while applied research focused on product and equipment development for the furniture, handicraft and housing sectors.
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In terms of equipment development, FPRDI developed the bamboo veneer lathe to produce veneers, or thin bamboo sheets, suitable for surface lamination of furniture and panel products. This enhances the products aesthetic properties and improves their value. The bamboo veneer lathe had already been piloted in one furniture company in Cebu City and is now ready for commercialization. The lathe is 50% cheaper than imported ones, making its product five times cheaper than imported veneers.

We have also recently developed the bamboo flattening machine to mechanize the traditional labor-intensive bamboo flattening technique. Funded by the DOSTs Technology Innovation for Commercialization or TECHNICOM, this

machine can produce around 100 to 200 sq.m. of flattened bamboo per day. It is commonly used for cladding of traditional houses but is now also being used for making engineered bamboo.

Speaking of engineered bamboo, FPRDI had conducted R&D and techno-transfer activities on this material since the 1990s. Recently, a DOST- and PCARRD-GIA - funded program titled Bamboo Industry Development Program: Mainstreaming

Philippine Engineered Bamboo Products was concluded.

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The program is a multi-agency collaboration among the University of the Philippines Los Baos, Mariano Marcos State University, Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau of DENR, and FPRDI. The Program has already accomplished the following:

Established pilot plantations of kawayan tinik (Bambusa blumeana) and giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) in Lumban, Laguna which will serve as demonstration areas for the application of technologies in bamboo clump development and management; Prepared demonstration modules on cutting and

harvesting, kiln drying, finishing and processing of slats for engineered bamboo; Published IEC campaign materials on bamboo for more stable raw material supply and to encourage consumers to use engineered bamboo; Demonstrated the viability of an SCU-LGU partnership model for developing and promoting the engineered bamboo enterprise; and In cooperation with the Bureau of Products Standards, drafted the first national standard for engineered bamboo. The draft standard had been circulated to stakeholders for their comments.
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We also plan to draft a national standard for bamboo poles. This way, bamboo poles can be sorted in terms of size, straightness, etc. according to different end-uses. This will make it possible to standardize the price of bamboo poles nationwide.

We found that our locally-produced engineered bamboo products have equal if not superior properties compared to the imported. This assures us that our local species and products have the potential to compete in the international market.

Engineered bamboos are currently being used in the manufacture of school desks and arm chairs by virtue of E.O.879. Engineered bamboo products can also be a substitute material to timber and panel products for furniture and construction.

We have observed, however, that most manufacturers lack adequate machineries to produce their products. Also, the commonly used glue in most plants is polyvinyl acetate or PVAc which is imported. We intend to resolve this issue by fabricating needed processing facilities as well as developing cost-effective adhesives from natural sources.

The Department has a furniture testing center based in FPRDI which can test the structural soundness of the locally-produced school desks and armchairs. The establishment of a satellite testing center in Cebu has already been approved for DOSTGIA funding. Such a center will bring the service nearer to furniture industries to companies based south of the country.

Bamboo is an organic material. Thus, it can be readily attacked by bio-deteriorating agents particularly if it is not properly dried and treated. One of the most sought after FPRDI technologies is the furnace type lumber dryer.

Since 1991, 23 bamboo dryers, ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 bdft capacity, have been installed in many parts of the country. The drying time which usually takes months with air drying is cut down to about a week using kiln dryers.

The additional investment for installing a kiln dryer is compensated by the higher value and better quality of dried poles. In a batch of 700 poles, an additional production cost of only PhP 5.10 per pole is needed to kiln dry bamboo.

Another bamboo kiln dryer, funded by DOST-GIA, will soon be established in Region X that will serve as a common service

facility. We also intend to develop automated furnace type dryers to improve the efficiency of the drying process.

Another FPRDI technology is the digital moisture meter that had been calibrated to our local bamboo species. This tool is important in the drying process as it monitor the moisture content of bamboo. Our locally-developed moisture meter is significantly cheaper than imported moisture meters that are often not calibrated to local species.

Bamboo treatment facilities had also been installed in many parts of the country. Treatment methods range from spraying, soaking or dipping, to pressure treatment. The simple dipping method requires an initial investment of only about PhP 3,000, and only PhP 9.55 and PhP 7.95 per pole for the initial and subsequent treatments.

In addition to non-pressure treatment methods, we have also developed a high pressure sap displacement technique that forces the preservatives into freshly-cut poles ensuring adequate, high quality treatment of poles for construction and other applications. We intend to develop a mobile treatment facility to make such method widely available to small and medium enterprises.

We also intend to develop environment-friendly preservatives from natural sources and non-chemical treatment method such as the thermal modification process. Thermal modification is a process of heat treatment with the use of steam, nitrogen or oil at temperatures close to 200oC for several hours.

Thermally-modified bamboo can result in improved durability against bio-deteriorating agents, higher dimensional stability, and decreased conductivity. Thermal modification changes the color of bamboo from off-white to light to dark brown.

Already in place also are facilities for producing bamboo charcoal and charcoal briquettes. Presently, we are also developing a bamboo charcoaling kiln and a method for recovering pyroligneous liquor or bamboo vinegar. With this technology, we can develop high quality bamboo charcoal as well as pyroligneous liquor that has numerous uses - from fertilizers to beauty and wellness products - and commands a high price in both local and world markets.

There are also plans to determine the chemical products that can be extracted from different parts of the bamboo. For example, it was found that the bamboo leaf extracts contain flavone that is believed to be a potential anti-cancer agent and can be used as flavor enhancer in a variety of beverages.
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In terms of bamboo as a construction material, we are presently developing corrugated bamboo sheets for roofing, a do-ityourself bamboo shelter, and improved jointing systems for bamboo.

The latter is a collaborative project we are currently doing with Hilti Foundation to provide affordable yet durable bamboo houses for lower income Filipinos. We envision that bamboo will become part of the structural code of the Philippines once we have gathered all the information required by the code.

Aside from our R&D laboratories, we also offer testing services for bamboo products.

We have testing laboratories for physical, mechanical, structural and chemical properties, pulp and paper, engineered products and furniture. We also conduct training on bamboo processing and use.

In the last five years alone, we have conducted 43 training courses on bamboo with 768 participants in most regions of the country. Our courses cover drying, preservation, glue

lamination, engineered bamboo, furniture production and charcoal production and briquetting. Technical publications
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have likewise been published by FPRDI and PCAARRD, on bamboo identification, production and many aspects of processing.

To complement the S&T activities on processing and use, DOSTs PCAARRD had developed an Industry Strategic S&T Development Plan for Bamboo. The strategic plan aims to increase pole production from 36 million annually to 45.78 million by 2015 and 55.44 million by 2020. To achieve this, the strategy is to come up with new R&D initiatives, technomart promotion and technology transfer, policy support and capacity building.

The R&D initiatives would include improved nursery, plantation, and post-harvest management practices including pest and disease control, cultivation and harvesting methods, grading standards, and utilization of stumps. Established protocols shall then be showcased through community-based S&T farms through pilot plantation establishment and management, and multi-media promotion.

A policy environment to attract investment in massive plantation establishment needs to be developed. The policy development includes ex-ante evaluation, supply chain analysis, export regulation and land use policy. Lastly, capacity building is also
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essential

by

training

bamboo

cooperators

on

bamboo

production, plantation establishment and management to guarantee the success of the strategic plan.

In addition to technical support, the Department also provides financial assistance to enable manufacturers to acquire machineries or set-up bamboo processing facilities. DOST offers interest-free financial assistance to upgrade the facilities of present processors through the Small Enterprises

Technology Upgrading Program or SETUP.

DOSTs Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI) offers Technology-Based Enterprise Development Assistance Program which aims to enhance the countrys technologybased enterprises by providing financial and technical

assistance to micro-, small-, and medium-enterprises in the areas of establishing and operating pilot ventures.

Another DOST agency, the Technology Resource Center (TRC) offers Joint Venture Programs aimed at facilitating the effective transfer of mature and socially relevant technologies from reliable R&D institutions into the able hands of the private business sector.

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As a final note, I would like to reiterate our commitment in developing relevant technologies and services that shall stimulate growth in the countrys bamboo enterprises. I would like to thank the Department of Trade and Industry and the members of the PBIDC for organizing this momentous event. I wish each one of us here today the best of luck as we pursue the common goal of uplifting our local bamboo industry.

Maraming salamat po at mabuhay tayong lahat!

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