Iloilo: An initiative led by the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation (ILEDF) is eyeing to position Iloilo as the bamboo powerhouse in Southeast Asia by 2030.

According to Philippines News Agency, Velma Jane Lao, head of the Local Economic Investment Promotion Office of Iloilo City, highlighted bamboo's strong fundamentals during their industry development for export and import substitution. These fundamentals include job creation, land productivity, value addition, and market competitiveness. The municipality of Maasin in Iloilo is recognized as the 'Bamboo Capital of the Philippines.'

"We are here because of our strategic location, because of its business landscape and progressive city," Lao said in an interview on Tuesday. The focus will be on engineered bamboo, with ILEDF leading efforts to establish a local engineered bamboo manufacturing or production center. Lao mentioned they are searching for land for the manufacturing plant and plantation to ensure a sustainable supply. "This can support around 5,000 farmers," she added.

During a meeting last month, Lao noted that Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. expressed his support for the initiative, recognizing its alignment with the grassroots economic agenda of the provincial government. Defensor also identified approximately 9,000 hectares of land under the Integrated Social Forestry Projects as potential sites for bamboo plantations.

The presence of the Visayas International Container Terminal (VICT) in Iloilo City is anticipated to facilitate export market opportunities for engineered bamboo. Mayor Raisa Tre±as has also pledged support in terms of marketing, promotion, and research and development. On Thursday, she announced that ILEDF representatives would travel to Cagayan de Oro to benchmark with Rizome Philippines, a firm specializing in bamboo building products, on plantation and manufacturing practices.

ILEDF, a public-private partnership, aims to make Iloilo a highly preferred investment destination with its long-term vision.