Planters Spring Bamboo, Inc. (PSBI)

Bamboo is one of the major forest resources in the country that exhibits a strong export potential through the manufacture of products intended for domestic use and the export market. Recent development in the manufacturing sector, especially on the use of mechanized production processes, provides a greater justification for strategic directions to ensure the long-term development of the bamboo industry; to ensure the availability of substitute materials to wooden forest products; as well as to address issues relative to the environment.

In recent memory, bamboo happens to enjoy a revival owing to: 1) environmental issues and consciousness brought about by the depletion of wood-based forest resources; 2)renewed interest on bamboo due to its wide-ranging use - in both economic, environment and sustainable ways; 3) an escalating groundswell of support from the government, the academe and the private sector is also providing the needed impetus for the industry's rebirth.

Advances in technology also aid the development of engineered bamboo products. Bamboo can now be turned into high-value products like laminated veneer for floor tiles, tabletops and panels, and a host of other structural and commercial applications. The availability of productivity-enhancing technologies for bamboo offers an incentive for adoption and consequential commercialization to gain access to favorable markets.

For these reasons, Planters Spring Bamboo, Inc. PSBI was formed. The company intends to launch and commercialize the production of bamboo products via the adoption of available technologies; and to promote bamboo as a sustainable industry in the country.

The project intends to integrate the industry's support systems from 1) nursery operation; 2) plantation development and management; 3) primary processing activities; 4) manufacturing; and 5) waste management. For it is by promoting bamboo propagation and plantation development that the company can ensure steady and stable supply of raw materials needed for its manufacturing and processing activities.

Supply management commencing from nursery operation and plantation management ensures that issues and potential supply problems that may emanate in the future will be addressed. Technically, it is an issue about the sustainability of manufacturing operations. Addressing supply issues early on promotes continued availability of raw material supplies and continued manufacturing operations.

While Panay province is deemed able to support bamboo manufacturing operations, PSBI must not, and should not, rely entirely on the existing bamboo stands in the province of Panay, especially since commercial operations will eventually exact its toll on existing bamboo stands. Hence, a continued program aimed at promoting plantation development and bamboo stands management must be pursued vigorously at the barangay level. Hence, the operation of a nursery and plantation establishment in order to address the material requirements and expansion of manufacturing operations once form boards manufacturing commences.

Illustratively, the project is defined by the following relationships, to wit:

The above illustration provides an integrated project management and development effort commencing from the selection of varieties deemed appropriate for the primary processing and manufacturing purposes.

By-products and waste materials from bamboo sticks and form-boards manufacturing will also be processed into charcoal briquettes to supply energy requirements of the manufacturing plant vis-à-vis the bamboo drying facility and boiler operations. This eliminates wastes associated with the manufacturing operations as well as saves funds that would have been spent for the purchase of fuel and energy requirements of the company.