DTI pushes Iloilo farmers to take advantage of boom in bamboo products
ILOILO CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) urged farmers in Iloilo province to shift to bamboo farming to meet the rising demand, particularly for construction purposes.
Jonathan Tejida, supervising trade industry development specialist of DTI, highlighted the growing trend, especially among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), to go into constructing “bahay kubo” (native huts) and producing bamboo-based products.
“Technically, the industry is progressive. We cannot think of it as a dying industry; we are progressing because of the support of the government and the community,” said Tejida in an interview on Sept. 11.
Maasin’s example
Bamboo has long been seen as a versatile material, but recent data from Maasin town showed just how big the industry has become.
Approximately 3,900 hectares of bamboo plantations are spread across Iloilo, with 19,000 bamboo poles sourced just from Maasin in the first half of 2024 alone, the DTI said.
Given the expanding market, Tejida said the DTI plans to conduct an industry-wide inventory to get a clearer picture of bamboo production in Iloilo and identify potential growth areas.
To celebrate the Bamboo Month this September, DTI has lined up several activities aimed at promoting bamboo and its by-products, including bamboo weaving demonstrations, a competition for bamboo products, and even food tasting featuring dishes made from bamboo shoots.
“The product competition seeks to inculcate among producers that they need to introduce new products every year. We have continuous assistance with the help of the Iloilo Bamboo Industry Development Council,” Tejida said.
To improve the quality of bamboo handicrafts, DTI, along with the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Center of Iloilo province, also conducted a three-day Bamboo Craft Enhancement Training for members of the Maasin Bamboo Association from Aug. 21 to Aug. 23.
The training, which took place in Barangay Tubang of Maasin, aimed to hone the skills of local bamboo artisans.
Tejida said the DTI recently approved two shared service facilities (SSFs) for Maasin’s bamboo sector.
These SSFs, he said, were expected to enhance the production capabilities of local bamboo craftsmen, particularly in making high-quality handicrafts.
