Subic Bay Freeport — In a joint effort to promote sustainability and local enterprise, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Zambales inaugurated a tree and bamboo nursery at El Kabayo on June 24, 2025.
According to SBMA Ecology Center Officer-in-Charge Rossell L. Abuyo, the newly opened El Kabayo Tree and Bamboo Nursery is a collaborative project with DTI Zambales and private sector partners aimed at propagating bamboo within the Freeport zone. She emphasized that the nursery marks the beginning of a broader initiative, with plans already underway for the development of a “Bambusetum” in the same area.
“A bambusetum is a curated garden dedicated to various bamboo species, functioning as a gene bank for conservation and research,” Abuyo explained. “It offers opportunities to study bamboo’s unique growth patterns and traits, which are often more telling than their flowers. It also serves scientific, educational, and aesthetic purposes.”
DTI Zambales Director Enrique Tacbad highlighted the potential of bamboo not only as an environmental asset but also as a promising source of income for local communities. “Bamboo can be turned into a wide range of products and propagules, creating livelihood opportunities,” Tacbad said. He revealed that plans are underway to establish facilities in the area to process and manufacture bamboo fibers and other products for market use.
“To support this initiative, a sustainable supply of raw materials is crucial,” he noted. “This is where the bambusetum—also called a ‘bambudal’ in Spanish—comes in. It will ensure a steady supply of diverse bamboo species, both native and exotic, for various applications including education, research, and commercial use.”
Tacbad shared that SBMA’s initial bambusetum will feature at least 15 to 20 species of bamboo.
As a show of support, the Banco Kalikasan Environmental Movement, Inc. donated 200 iron bamboo propagules during the nursery’s launch. Banco Kalikasan President Emar Alcantara and Project Coordinator Mary Grace Alcantara personally handed over the propagules to SBMA.
Iron bamboo, or Guadua angustifolia, is a South American species renowned for its strength, making it a top choice for engineered bamboo products and sustainable construction. It has been successfully introduced to the Philippines and is now a priority species for local propagation.
With initiatives like this, SBMA and DTI aim to position Subic Freeport as a hub for sustainable bamboo production and innovation—supporting environmental preservation while empowering local communities.