Iloilo eyed as Southeast Asia’s bamboo powerhouse by 2030

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The city and province of Iloilo are aiming to become Southeast Asia’s “bamboo powerhouse” by 2030 through the development of large-scale bamboo plantations and processing facilities.

In August, local officials and business leaders conducted a study tour at Rizome Philippines’ bamboo processing facility in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, to explore the potential for producing engineered bamboo products.

The delegation included Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu, former Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo president Fulbert Woo, and Iloilo Economic Development Foundation president Roel Castro.

In a press conference on Monday, Sept. 8, Treñas-Chu said initial talks pointed to Iloilo City as the site for a bamboo processing facility, while the provincial government would oversee bamboo plantations.

One proposed site for the processing plant is the Calajunan dumpsite in Mandurriao, which is nearing the end of its lifespan and is scheduled for closure in 2026.

“We are looking at the possibility that we can export because there are many inbound shipments in our international port. The problem is outbound, that is why we are really planning on how we can improve the outbound and what the city and province can export,” she said.

Treñas-Chu noted that the bamboo industry in Cagayan de Oro City offers a viable model for Iloilo.

Cagayan de Oro’s bamboo facility, operated by Rizome Philippines, is a USD 100-million engineered bamboo manufacturing plant.

The facility processes bamboo culms into products such as slats, laminated veneer, and panels for construction use.

Its raw materials come from bamboo plantations in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, where extensive farming and seedling propagation take place.

Rizome sources bamboo from Bukidnon and other Mindanao provinces and exports engineered bamboo products primarily to the United States, where its parent operations are based.

“Maybe that will also be the mechanism since Iloilo City is near seaports. That is the setup we are looking at,” Treñas-Chu said.

The mayor stressed that the initiative would be led by the private sector, with several investors already expressing interest in the bamboo industry in Iloilo.

She added that the city government is open to granting incentives to companies that establish processing facilities and promote green infrastructure.

On Aug. 5, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. met with the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation and Rizome for the presentation of a transformative bamboo investment proposal centered on building a bamboo-based green economy.

The proposal includes monetizing Panay Island’s verified bamboo inventory through carbon credit generation, which is expected to create new revenue streams for farmers and cooperatives while supporting global climate goals.

A central feature of the plan is the establishment of an engineered bamboo manufacturing plant.

Rizome identified Maasin — already recognized as the “bamboo capital of Iloilo” — as a strategic location because of its natural resources and existing bamboo plantations.

Maasin has bamboo plantations spanning around 3,000 hectares and is home to diverse species, accounting for about 20% of the total bamboo species found in the Philippines.

To strengthen global trade, the plan includes using the Visayas International Container Terminal in Iloilo as a hub for exporting engineered bamboo products, giving local producers access to international markets.

Defensor welcomed the proposal, saying it complements his executive programs that promote rural economic growth, reforestation, and sustainable livelihoods.

He is also eyeing areas covered by Integrated Social Forestry Projects, totaling more than 9,000 hectares, as potential sites for future bamboo plantations.