Two agencies under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resource Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) partnered in a project to enhance the development of bamboo enterprises in Laguna.
The project, “Enhancing the Growth of Bamboo-based Enterprises in Laguna'' is funded by the DOST-PCAARRD and being implemented by DOST-FPRDI under the leadership of Dr. Ma. Cecile B. Zamora. The project is part of the enterprise development program of the DOST-PCAARRD’s Agri-Aqua Business Hub (AABH). It intends to support the operation and promote the growth of bamboo-based enterprises in Laguna by developing sustainable intervention strategies to address gaps and challenges at each node of the bamboo value chain.
While bamboo, dubbed as the country’s green gold, is recognized as an ecologically and economically important commodity, it is still considered as a minor forest product whose full potential has yet to be harnessed.
Despite the support from various agencies in Laguna, several bamboo-based enterprises are still facing challenges and have not made significant progress due to various operational issues. The project is expected to improve the overall operation of the enterprises by providing sustainable intervention strategies such as entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and facilitating market and institutional linkages, among others. These strategies adhere to the general methodology for enterprise development framework and methodology developed by the AABH.
The project was discussed in depth during the inception meeting held on February 10, 2022. Present during the activity were three experts on agribusiness development and value chain research: Professor Dinah Pura Depositario and Assistant Professor Mar Cruz, both from the Department of Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (DAME-UPLB), as well as Mr. Jose Alvaro C. Nito, Managing Director of Planters Produce Corp and CEO of Binhi PH. They provided their insights and suggestions on how to improve the project’s strategies and for the project team to meet its objectives.
More than the direct impact on the local enterprises covered, the experts commended how the project will help boost the industry at a macro level, especially by serving as a benchmark for future initiatives targeted to develop the bamboo industry in other provinces and regions. In addition, results of the value chain assessment for the bamboo industry will be very relevant in designing development programs and policies.
The project is monitored by the AABH as part of its initiative to harness the potential of AANR-based enterprises in the country.