TACLOBAN CITY – Leyte Rep. Anna Veloso-Tuazon expressed optimism that a bill mandating the use of bamboo-made products in government offices and local government units becoming law.
Veloso-Tuazon, representing Leyte’s third congressional district, stated that House Bill 10263, of which she was one of the main authors, was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives on its third and final reading on May 21 of this year.
The bill mandates that all government offices and agencies, including local government units, allocate at least 25 percent of their budget for furniture and fixtures to products made of engineered bamboo and other bamboo-based materials.
The implementation of this proposed law is aligned with the New Government Procurement Act, which was recently approved by the Senate.
Rep. Veloso-Tuazon emphasized that the measure would aid in combating climate change by encouraging more land to be devoted to bamboo cultivation to meet the expected demand.
She stressed that under the measure, all bamboo used should be locally sourced, ensuring that local communities benefit in the process.
“The measure is also explicit that all bamboo that are to be used should be locally sourced and not from China, for example,” she said.
China is considered to have the biggest bamboo forest in the world.
“Our farmers will benefit, and this will prevent importation,” Veloso-Tuazon added.
The Leyte lawmaker also said that President Marcos has shown support for the measure, highlighting its alignment with the national government’s policies on sustainable development, environmental conservation, and the utilization of renewable resources, which are part of its commitment to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Bamboo is known for its various benefits, including inhibiting soil erosion and balancing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Additionally, bamboo grows rapidly, is ready for harvest in three to five years, and requires no irrigation.
While data on the hectares of land devoted to bamboo planting in Eastern Visayas is not available, the region is rich in bamboo plants.
Out of the 62 known bamboo species in the country, four major species are found in the region: ‘kawayan tinik,’ giant bamboo, ‘bolo,’ and ‘buho.’
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
