ENGINEERED BAMBOO AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR LUMBER IN THE
PHILIPPINES
Manuel, Jonathan V.
In partial fulfillment of requirements in GEC-4 Purposive Communication
Isabela State University – Echague Campus
Echague, Isabela
Abstract
The Philippine archipelago is situated near the Equator which makes it a tropical
country that houses a dense rainforest which has diverse species of flora and fauna, however due
to continuous deforestation and the rapid advancement of cities, only a small portion of the
original forest cover remains. For the reason of development in cities and other rural areas,
extensive usage of lumber was expected and it would greatly affect the Philippine rainforest if
people will continue to use lumber from the woods.
As another take given by Flora (2019), bamboo is another effective greening agent to
increase the country’s forest cover and given by its many vital economic and ecologic uses, it
may just become the country’s alternative material for lumber. Given by these actualities,
bamboo has a great potential not just on the construction site but also on the forestry of the
country.
With all the actualities and information gathered from different trusted resources, it is
safe to say that purchasing and installing engineered bamboo materials in your dream house
would be good on your side. With a price that is cheaper than the commercial lumbers but
durable enough to sustain the challenges of time and climate at your location. Engineered
bamboo is also a developing industry in the country and every person who wants to save money
and minimize their cash input on their construction site, and then engineered bamboo is a good
investment.
CHAPTER I
PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS
Introduction
The Philippine archipelago is situated near the Equator which makes it a tropical country
that houses a dense rainforest which has diverse species of flora and fauna, however due to
continuous deforestation and the rapid advancement of cities, only a small portion of the original
forest cover remains. For the reason of development in cities and other rural areas, extensive
usage of lumber was expected and it would greatly affect the Philippine rainforest if people will
continue to use lumber from the woods.
As one of the major struggles in a property construction is a sufficient supply of lumber
as trees take extensive amount of years to be properly harvested from forests so finding a viable
alternative is one of the many steps toward an efficient building construction. In a country like
the Philippines where rich and diverse species of trees that can be produced in a less amount of
time but will last the same as the commercial lumber, it is practical to head to this approach
however, it is not tree that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is currently
having its eyes on but a grass – the bamboo grass.
“There has not been any reliable inventory of available erect bamboos nationwide except
that of an FRI-RP-German Project conducted in 1988. Result of the said inventory estimated the
bamboo resources at about 10,730 million linear meters, most of which are represented by
climbing bamboos totaling 8318 linear meters. In the said inventory, only five species were
covered. Of the five species covered, Schizostachyum lima and Schizostachyum lumampao which
are naturally growing in the forests were the most plentiful, the former with 27.2 million culms
and the latter, with 172.0 million culms available” Roxas (n.d.).
As another take given by Flora (2019), bamboo is another effective greening agent to
increase the country’s forest cover and given by its many vital economic and ecologic uses, it
may just become the country’s alternative material for lumber. Given by these actualities,
bamboo has a great potential not just on the construction site but also on the forestry of the
country.
Objectives of the Study
Generally, this research paper aims to know the likelihood of engineered bamboo as an
alternative for lumber in the Philippines.
Specifically, the study wanted to give details on the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is an engineered bamboo?
What is the strength comparison of engineered bamboo to other wood materials?
What is the relative cost of engineered bamboo to other wood materials?
Where are the suppliers of engineered bamboo located in the Philippines?
5. Is it good to invest in engineered bamboo?
Significance of the Study
In general, the research paper titled “Engineered Bamboo as an Alternative for Lumber in
the Philippines” wants to know the feasibility of engineered bamboo as an alternative
construction material.
This study can be use of value and is essential to the following individuals and
organizations:

Locals
This paper will help the locals to have a better understanding on the abundant bamboo
grass around them allowing them to see it not just a source of food or temporary shelter
(e.g nipa hut), but also as a sturdy construction material thus allowing them to capitalize
it and earn cash from it.

Clients
Clients that are planning to make their dream house will consider on purchasing locally
made engineered bamboo upon reading this research paper. This paper could also help
them to minimize their expenses allowing them to prioritize other portions of their dream
house without sacrificing durability and aesthetics of their house.

Contractors
With this research paper, contractors will have an increased amount of building materials
that they can choose from giving them and their clients a wide variety of materialcombinations. This could lead to a marginal cost of the overall construction sacrificing as
much as a minimum on the different aspects of the building.

Government Officials
As a body that creates laws and regulations on the country’s resources, government
officials can use this research paper to establish an act on how to propagate the different
species of bamboos that can be used or has potential on being a lumber alternative.
Government officials reading this research paper will be enlightened on the significant
impact that a bamboo grass can bring on their area.

Future Researchers
It can serve as a springboard for future researchers that will give them an overview on the
aspects of engineered bamboo and its potential alternative as a construction material;
broadening their understanding on such topic. It will also serve as a framework for
widening the scope of related studies they will be conducting.
Scope and Delimitation of the Study
The scope of the research paper not limited to the Philippines but the researcher is willing
to put other engineered bamboo from other countries if he will find some. However, the
researcher conducts a library research on engineered bamboo and other wood products like
timber and lumber alone. The researcher does not include any other construction materials such
as gravel, concrete mix, cement, concrete hollow blocks, roofs, pipes, reinforced steels and
others.
Having been said the certainties of the research paper, it lacks on the actual application of
engineered bamboo on site. The researcher also needs further learning on the different
construction materials.
Definition of Terms
For a better and clearer understanding of the study, the following terms are hereby
defined conceptually:
Bamboo - Bamboo belongs to the Bambusoideae subfamily of the perennial
evergreen grass family Poaceae (Gramineae). Of all grasses, bamboo is the largest and
the only one that can diversify into forest.
Engineered bamboo - Engineered Bamboo represents bamboo products that have
undergone processing primarily to produce consistent, straight-edged building materials
from round, irregular culms.
Construction materials - Is any material that is used for construction. Various raw
substances such as clay, sand, wood, rocks, and twigs have been utilized for building.
These materials are employed in different projects, such as carpentry, plumbing, roofing,
and insulation work.
Lumber - Lumber describes the processed wood products that are commonly used in
home construction, and familiar to consumers.
Anisotropic - Properties of a material depend on the direction; for example, wood. In a
piece of wood, you can see lines going in one direction; this direction is referred to as
"with the grain". The wood is stronger with the grain than "against the grain".
Scrimber - a restructuring wood product made from wood bundles treated by rolling, and
it has a high material utilization rate
Review of Related Literature and Studies
The following information shows certain details and ideas relating to engineered bamboo
and other similar components. It displays similar studies made which are also considered in
making the thesis proper.
Foreign Literature and Studies
There are findings and other readings that were considered for the production of this
research paper. These researches show ideas about engineered bamboos and other related
components that can be used as an alternative for lumber. These notions were gained to be able
to further understand the topic and help future researchers in bettering this particular paper.
“Added-value bamboo products are mainly produced in China and purchased in Europe.
Bamboo is increasingly used as a substitute for hardwood, since it provides an environmentally
sound proposition. In this fact sheet, value-added bamboo products are restricted to flooring,
panels and decking made of bamboo, as there are limits to the statistics”, (Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Center for the Promotion of Imports, 2017, Product description, para.4).
As stated by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Center for the Promotion of Imports (2017) is
that bamboo may be a sustainable substitute to lumber and is increasingly used for lumber on the
European market and it is most likely that Europeans might turn to bamboo alternatives.
“Bamboo flooring and furniture are also becoming more important industries in Fujian, in
part due to the advance of strong engineered bamboo composites and an increased international
demand. Companies like Huayu Group (华宇集团) show the potential of the industry: the
company produces 10 million metres squared of flooring every year, made from a combination
of woven or sold carbonised bamboo” (International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, 2019, p. 1).
(Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, 2018, p. 1) stated, “Hebel and his fellow
researchers have developed a composite that combines the plant’s fibres with a resin that allows
the material to be heat-compressed into various shapes, as well as preventing it from degrading.
The fibre is extracted from a large number of bamboo stems – or culms – mainly from species
found in Ethiopia and Indonesia, and combined to create an average strength across the product,
dealing with some of the issues of consistency that occur when using natural fibres.”
Local Literature and Studies
More importantly, due to the reason that this research paper is confined within the
country, the researcher also seek out local literature and studies published regarding engineered
bamboo. All these findings were gathered to further elaborate the paper and also to find out some
parts of the research paper to be improved by the future researchers.
As noted by Cabangon (2015), engineered bamboo has a wide range of products made by
binding together different components of bamboo with a suitable glue to form a composite
material designed to meet specific needs, often stronger and less prone to warping than
equivalent woods.
“Commercial species of kawayan tinik (Bambusa blumeana), bayog (Bambusa sp.),
kawayan kiling (Bambusa vulgaris) and giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) have long been
used in the cottage industries of basket weaving, hut-making and furniture making in the many
provinces of the country” (Flora, 2019, Engineered bamboo and greening efforts, para. 9).
According to Business Diary PH (2020), a prototype desk was the first product made
from engineered bamboo by Department of Science and Technology Forest Products Research
and Development Institute (DoST-FPRDI) researchers and that they used a bamboo flattening
machine which makes bamboo columns into bamboo planks that could solve the need for
engineered bamboo locally.
“Most often, engineered bamboo products are used in applications similar to engineered
or solid wood products. Due to certain advantages in applications, however, engineered bamboo
products may be preferred to solid wood” (Cabangon, 2020, para. 4).
According to (Lazo, 2013, para. 10), “the initiative for looking at bamboo as a
replacement for wood came as a response to the total log ban which prohibits the extensive
cutting of trees. The DTI is conducting fairs to market the bamboo to increase the industry’s
revenues as well as improving the bamboo plantation in the country to be useful in local
manufacturing.”
CHAPTER II
METHODOLOGY
This chapter comprises the vital information for the progress of the paper. It shows the
research design used in the research paper and the procedure on how the researcher gathered the
data needed to make this research paper.
Research Design
The research design used in this research paper is record-keeping design. “This method
makes use of the already existing reliable documents and similar sources of information as the
data source. This data can be used in new research. This is similar to going to a library. There
one can go over books and other reference material to collect relevant data that can likely be
used in the research” (QuestionPro, n.d., Types of qualitative research methods with examples: 5.
Record Keeping)
Data Gathering Procedure
As interviewing with other people was not possible at the present due to the pandemic,
the researcher takes his time to surf the internet and find the related studies and literature that can
further enrich his knowledge about the topic. All of the data gathered in this research paper are
true and came from sources that will be cited at the Bibliography section.
CHAPTER III
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS
This chapter of the research paper titled “Engineered Bamboo as an Alternative for
Lumber in the Philippines” displays the summary of findings according to the gathered data and
the conclusions based from the provided information.
Summary of Findings
This division presents the summary from the gathered information by the researcher
about engineered bamboo in and out of the Philippines.
A. Engineered Bamboo
As stated from the previous chapters, engineered bamboo is a composite material
made out of bamboo veneers, strands, particles, fibers, and strips with a suitable adhesive
to meet specific uses.
“Bamboo can be engineered to form products with improved and/or standardized
mechanical, physical and aesthetic properties. As in the case for other
lignocellulosic materials such as wood, bamboo poles (culms) with variable diameters,
lengths and shapes can be transformed into straight edged engineered products with
predictable properties for construction applications” (Designing Buildings Wiki, 2020,
Engineered bamboo, para. 1)
B. Strength Comparison
According to the study done by Sharma et al. (2015) states that engineered
bamboo scrimber and laminated bamboo both has comparable mechanical properties to
other structural materials like timber and raw bamboo as this was found out when both
bamboo scrimber and laminated bamboo undergone tension, compression, shear, and
bending tests.
“Both materials also exhibit anisotropic behavior typical of natural bamboo and
similar to that of fiber reinforced composite panels and the mechanical behavior of
bamboo scrimber and laminated bamboo are very similar in tension, compression, and
shear parallel to grain. Laminated bamboo has a similar specific modulus (16–19
(106 m2 s−2)) to Sitka spruce (21 (106 m2 s−2)) and Douglas-fir LVL (25 (106 m2 s−2))
and surpasses that of bamboo scrimber (11 (106 m2 s−2))” (Sharma et al., 2015,
Engineered bamboo for structural applications).
According to an article published by Vyas (2020), bamboo is stronger than steel
with a tensile strength of 28,000 pounds per square inch (psi) while steel only has 23,000
psi.
“The compressive strength of bamboo is roughly situated between 40 and 80
which is twice to four times the value of most timber species. The difference in
results can be explained by the different test methods and samples that were used.
However, it is clear that age and moisture content of bamboo samples have a significant
influence on the compressive strength of bamboo. Bamboo with low moisture content
has a higher compressive strength than bamboo with high moisture content” (Bamboo
Import Europe, n.d., Compare the compressive strength of various bamboo species, para. 2)
C. Relative Cost of Engineered Bamboo
“It is also less expensive than many other woods. (The average bamboo floor
costs about $5 to $7 a square foot, not including installation, whereas walnut or pine can
cost nearly $10 a square foot.) Because bamboo plants take only about five years to
mature, unlike many trees, which can take 50 years or more, bamboo is environmentally
sustainable. Like most woods, though, it can vary in quality, depending on the
manufacturer and the finishing technique. Solid bamboo floors, which are the most
durable, tend to be more expensive, and can cost as much as $9 a square foot. Engineered
bamboo floors, which have multiple layers, can run as low as $3 a square foot, but the
quality might not be as high” (Milioti, 2008, Is Bamboo Flooring a Good Idea or Just a
Fad?, para. 4-5).
One supplier that Mr. Appolloni recommends is Teragren, above, on Bainbridge
Island in Washington (www.teragren.com). The company carries a wide range of solid
flooring for about $6 to $8 a square foot, plus shipping, and most of it comes with a 25year warranty. In general, installation for all such floors increases the cost by $3 to $5.50
a square foot.
Another good source is Bamboo Mountain (www.bamboomountain.com), which
offers customers a “sample pack” of 10 bamboo planks, in various colors and finishes, for
$20. The company’s solid, 5/8-inch-thick bamboo, which can be ordered in a natural or
carbonized (dark brown) finish, or in “zebra” (a combination that resembles a traditional
hardwood floor), costs about $5 to $6.50 a square foot, plus shipping.
Home Depot is also a good place to buy bamboo, because its salespeople can
offer advice on flooring, and it has competitive prices: Home Legend, one of its least
expensive brands, starts at around $3.50 a square foot, plus shipping, with some of the
flooring engineered.
But according to Cabangom (2018), these are the days that are not easy for the
beginning bamboo industry in the Philippines. It does not have enough supply of bamboo
poles; the quality of poles is low and the price high; glues are expensive; and producers
do not have the means to buy high-capacity machines.
Implying that it will take a while to keep up with competitors around the globe
but if this thrives, then many will be benefitted on this program not just the locals but the
environment as well.
D. Engineered Bamboo Suppliers within the Philippines
Some of the notable engineered bamboo suppliers here in the country are as follows:

BambooGrove Furniture – “We started business in 1973 as a small family
business catering to the local Bamboo and Rattan furniture industry in the
Philippines. Our factory has recently undergone a major retrofit, skills upgrading
and production improvements. These recent upgrades and improvements, have
allowed us to be even more efficient in our design, manufacturing and the export
process, thus allowing us to compete more effectively in the global market”
(BabooGrove Furniture, n.d., ABOUT US)

Modern Bamboo – “Modern Bamboo is a trusted brand of CxF Design Center,
mainly supplies high quality bamboo flooring, bamboo cladding, bamboo
decking, and bamboo veneer. Come visit our showroom in Pasay City!” (Modern
Bamboo, n.d.)

CXF DESIGN CENTER – “Based in the Philippines, we supply customized
modular kitchen and wardrobe cabinets. Our products fully adapt German
technology and use only ISO certified E1 or E0 eco-friendly board materials and
quality BLUM accessories. Aside from modular kitchen and wardrobe, the
company also supplies solid bamboo flooring, cladding, decking, and veneer”
(CXF DESIGN CENTER, n.d., para. 1)

DESIGN SOURCE: CREATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS –
“Design Source Retail outlets are managed by Maison and Smith Inc., a 100% Filipinoowned corporation that operates in conformity with the Retail Nationalization Law. It
started out as the sole distributor of Pergo laminated floors. Since then, it has increased
its scope and range of product lines to include high quality solid, engineered, waterproof,
vinyl and outdoor wood flooring” (Design Source, n.d., Our History, para. 1)
E. Good Investment
Investing in engineered bamboo is quite nice based on the information that were
gathered by the researcher.
“Engineered bamboo flooring is the easiest bamboo flooring type to install, and you can
do it yourself. Although engineered bamboo planks aren’t waterproof, they’re more moistureresistant than solid bamboo planks, thanks to the wear layer and the waterproofing on the bottoms
of the planks. These floors can be installed in any room in the house, including rooms below
ground level and rooms that see lots of moisture, like the laundry room, bathroom, and kitchen.”
“The prices of engineered bamboo floors are roughly comparable to the cost of solid
bamboo flooring. Depending on the quality of the wear layer and the thickness of the veneer,
engineered bamboo wood floors can cost anywhere from $3 to $5 per square foot. If you hire
someone else to install your floor, the installed price will be higher” (The Build Direct Team,
2019, Pros of Engineered Bamboo Flooring)
“When compared to hardwood, bamboo is slightly more resistant to water damage. And
bamboo is slightly harder than many hardwoods, giving it somewhat better resistance to scratches
and dents. But this is not a water-proof or scratch-proof material. Take care to protect the floor
against standing water and from scratches. Because it is an organic material, bamboo can be
affected by mold if water is present. Bamboo can be discolored if it gets too much direct sunlight,
so it is best to use shades or blinds in rooms that get direct sunlight.”
“This material is priced at about the same level as most hardwood floors. You can find
bamboo flooring products ranging from about $2 to $8 per square foot, with a national average of
$3.84 per square foot. Installation costs for bamboo flooring are much the same as for hardwood
flooring. On average, figure on adding about $4 per square foot for installation labor in addition
to the cost of materials. You should be able to get a good-quality bamboo installed for less than
$10 per square foot, including materials and labor” (Levitin, 2020, Bamboo Flooring Cost and
Maintenance and Repair)
Conclusion
With all the actualities and information gathered from different trusted resources, it is
safe to say that purchasing and installing engineered bamboo materials in your dream house
would be good on your side. With a price that is cheaper than the commercial lumbers but
durable enough to sustain the challenges of time and climate at your location. Engineered
bamboo is also a developing industry in the country and every person who wants to save money
and minimize their cash input on their construction site, and then engineered bamboo is a good
investment.
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