City of Ilagan, Isabela (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office – Isabela and the Provincial Government of Isabela, collaborated to address the challenges in the rattan and bamboo furniture making industry in Isabela province.  

In a forum attended by nearly 200 stakeholders, the micro, small, and medium entrepreneurs and others involved in the industry were apprised of the various policies and regulations on forest genetic resources. 

Zenaida M. Quinto, officer-in-charge of the Business Development Division of DTI Region 2, said the industry stakeholders brought out some pressing concerns including the lack of legal sources of bamboo, wood, and rattan, and some permitting procedures and regulations on bamboo, rattan, and timber trading and harvesting. 

Quinto said the DTI will develop strategies to address the concerns of industry stakeholders including the mass propagation and planting of bamboo and rattan propagules.

She also affirmed the commitment of DTI to further boost the furniture industries not only in Isabela but in the entire Cagayan Valley Region as well, in coordination with the environment department and local governments to ensure environmental protection vis-a-vis industry development.

Forester Geronimo Cabaccan Jr., the PENR officer of Isabela, urged entrepreneurs to support programs and activities to ensure the sustainability of rattan and bamboo sources in the locality. 

He also lauded initiatives like the 'One Million Bamboo in One Day' campaign to balance livelihood development with environmental preservation. 

"This will help everyone to understand how to improve their livelihoods without compromising the environment," said Cabaccan. 

To educate the stakeholders on the laws governing the gathering, processing, and transporting of rattan and bamboo plants, Erma B. Gamit, chief of the Permitting Unit of PENRO, presented the legal framework governing forest genetic resources, stressing the need for compliance to curb illegal practices and prevent penalties.

"We promote environmental sustainability while valuing livelihood through proper cultivation, utilization, and management of forest genetic resources," said Gamit. 

She also provided the stakeholders with lists of rattan and bamboo raw material legal sources and the registered chainsaw operators as one of the practical solutions to the challenges faced by the furniture-making industry operators in the province.

Moreover, Gamit advised rattan manufacturers to secure rattan cutting contracts from their respective Community Environment and Natural Resources Office to operate legally. At the same time, the bamboo entrepreneurs were apprised of the simplified process of obtaining Certificates of Verification (CoV) for harvesting and transporting bamboo products. (OTB/MFJ/PIA Region 2)