Long known as the bamboo capital of the Philippines, the upland town of Maasin is now poised to take the lead in a global green revolution—one engineered culm at a time.
A proposed partnership between the Iloilo Provincial Government and international firm Rizome Bamboo could soon place Maasin at the center of Southeast Asia’s growing bamboo economy.
Rizome is planning to set up an engineered bamboo manufacturing plant in the province, banking on Maasin’s existing bamboo plantations and deep-rooted expertise in cultivation and craftsmanship.
The project promises to elevate Maasin from a traditional bamboo-growing town into a key player in the global supply chain for sustainable construction and green products.
“Maasin already has what it takes—experience, raw materials, and community support. What we’re doing now is scaling that up,” said Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., who has championed bamboo development under his Tanum Iloilo reforestation and livelihood program.
The plan also complements the province’s goal of becoming Southeast Asia’s bamboo powerhouse by 2030, with Maasin leading the way.
Over 9,000 hectares of land under the Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP) are now being considered for large-scale bamboo planting, much of which will likely center around Maasin and neighboring upland towns.
With the Visayas International Container Terminal (VICT) ready to facilitate export logistics, locally made bamboo products could soon be shipped from Iloilo to markets worldwide—opening new doors for Maasin’s farmers, artisans, and green entrepreneurs.
If successful, this transformation could turn Maasin from a quiet upland town into the beating heart of a climate-smart, export-ready bamboo industry—a legacy rooted in the land and grown for the world.IMT
