Transcript INTRODUCTION

STATUS OF RUBBERWOOD PROCESSING
AND UTILIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINES
By
FELIX B. TAMOLANG, Director III
Forest Products Research & Development Institute
Department of Science and Technology
1








Introduction
Distribution and Supply
Potential Value Of Available Supply
Basic Properties & Characteristics
Technological & Working Properties
Utilization
Constraints in Utilization of
Rubberwood
Conclusion and Recommendations
2
Diminishing wood supply
in the mid-1970s alerted
forest conservation in the
Philippines
Shortage of raw material
supply adversely
affected the growth and
global competitiveness
of forest-based industries
3
4
CHANGES IN FOREST COVER
YEAR
FOREST COVER
% TOTAL
1934
17.8 (M HA)
57.3
1940
NA
-
1950
NA
-
1960
NA
-
1970
10.9
36.3
1980
7.4
24.3
1990
6.2
20.7
1995
5.6
18.7
1997
5.4
18.0
2000
5.4
18.0
2003
7.2
23.9
5
CHANGE IN FOREST COVER
S = 0.0 0000 000
r = 1.00 000 000
AREA (million has)
11.
05
22
10.
9.3
8
8.5
5
7.7
1
6.8
8
4
6.019 65
19 70
19 75
19 80
19 85
19 90
19 95
20 00
20 05
Year
6
7
Para rubber
Hevea brasiliensis (HBK) Muell.-Arg.
Family Euphorbiaceae
8
Region
Area (has.)
0%
CALABARZON
19%
MIMAROPA
Zamboanga Peninsula
2%
3%
51%
14%
Northern Mindanao
Davao Region
No. of Trees
CALABARZON
227
50,650
MIMAROPA
50
31,500
Zamboanga
Peninsula
43,028
16,234,474
Northern
Mindanao
4,527
411,456
Davao Region
6,245
1,283,301
SOCSARGEN
31,128
12,470,525
ARMM
21,194
2,498,355
Caraga
5,446
2,466,225
111,845
35,446,486
SOCSARGEN
ARMM
Caraga
2% 9%
Area (has.)
Total Philippines
Total Philippines
9

About 40,000 has. of more than 25 year old
rubber trees considered over-aged found in
Zamboanga Peninsula, SOCSARGEN, CARAGA
and ARMM

6 M cu.m. of logs ready for processing if govt.
policy on rubber utilization will be expanded
focusing into promotion on processing,
utilization & marketing of rubberwood products
as alternative RM
10



6 M cu.m. of logs if processed & exported
as KD lumber has a potential value of
USD 361 M
Higher potential value if further
processed & exported into value-added
products
Sustained replanting at rate of 4% every
year will yield about 5,592 hectares of
rubberwood or 668,910 cu m of logs
ready for utilization annually
11
TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR
RUBBERWOOD INDUSTRIES
12
Major Components of
FPRDI Technical Services
1. Research and Development
2. Product Testing and Certification
3. Establishment of Common Service
Facilities (CSF)
4. Manpower Development
5. Provision of Technical Support
and Services
13
Basic Properties and
Characteristics
14
Physical Properties of Plantation–Grown Trees in the Phils.
Species
Relative
Density
(Kg/m3 )
Color
(Heartwood)
Grain
Texture
Luster
582-640
White to Pale
cream with
pinkish tinge
Straight to
interlocked
Moderately
coarse
Low
Yemane
438-506
Cream to light
yellow brown
Straight to
moderately
interlocked
Fine
High
Mahogany
575-616
Reddish brown
Straight to
interlocked
Moderately
fine
High
Mangium
500-600
Dark brown
Straight
Fine
High
Para
Rubber
15
Physical Properties of Plantation-Grown Trees
in the Phils.
Species
Shrinkage (green-12%MC)
Dimensional
Volumetric
Movement
Natural
Durability
(Heart
wood)
Radial
Tangential
Para Rubber
1.2
2.5
3.7
Low
Perishable
Yemane
3.3
5.2
8.3
Medium
Moderately
durable
Mahogany
1.3
1.7
3.0
Low
Moderately
durable
Mangium
1.3
2.6
-
Moderately
low
Non-durable
16
Mechanical Properties of Plantation-grown hardwoods in the Phils.
SpeciesClass II
Strenght
Grouping
Comparable Species
Para
Class IV
Mayapis
Yemane
Class III
Mahogany
Class III
Narra, Philippine
Mahogany
Mangium
Class II
Narra
Rubber
17
Working properties
18
Working properties of plantation-grown hardwoods in the Philippines
Species
Treatability
Nailing
Easy
Moderately
permeable
Tends to split
Good
Easy
Extremely
resistant
Easy
Yemane
Good
Easy
(fairly
slow)
Resistant
Very easy
Mangium
Good
Easy
resistant
Easy
Para

Sawing & Drying
Machining
Rubber Good
Mahogany
19
Working properties of plantation-grown hardwoods in the Phils.
Species
Para
Finishing Steam
Gluing
Bending
Rubber Good
Remarks
Poor
Easy
Warp often severe.
Susceptible to blue
stain and borer
attack
Mahogany
Good
Poor
Easy
-
Yemane
Good
Fair
Easy
Slight blunting effect
on cutting tools
Mangium
Good
Very
good
Moderately
easy
Lumber susceptible
to warp
20
21
22

It is inherently very susceptible to the attack of
staining fungi and insect borers because of its high
starch and sugar content. Although solutions to
these problems and preventive measures have been
identified, the cost of chemicals and putting up
treating facilities is a deterring factor in its utilization.

It is prone to seasoning defects i.e. bowing, twisting,
spring which can however be minimized or prevented
through proper handling, stacking and drying.
23

Logs are only available in short lengths and small
diameter. In furniture manufacture, however, this is
not a limitation because it does not normally require
long and wide boards. If it does, the boards can be
side glued and finger jointed.

Existing government policy and program in the
Philippines which is limited to promotion and
production of natural rubber /latex. There is no
clearcut policy supporting the processing and
utilization of rubberwood.
24


The wood has excellent physical and technological
properties making it suitable for the manufacture of a
variety of quality finished products and competitive
to other wood products in both the local and export
markets .
There is an available volume of rubberwood supply
which is relatively sufficient and be made sustainable
as long as the government promotes and encourages
the planting of rubber trees for latex production and
promote and encourage its further processing and
marketing as additional socio-economic incentive
among rubber growers & wood-based manufacturers.
25

The technology for processing rubberwood is
available in the country and ready for technology
transfer to interested end-users. Successful
experiences by other countries like Malaysia,
Thailand, China, India and Indonesia can be readily
adopted in the Philippines where processing facilities
and skilled manpower are available.
26

To ensure a sustainable supply of rubberwood in the
Philippines, loans at low interest rates and attractive
investment incentives need to be offered ny the
government to encourage the establishment of
rubberwood processing facilities especially in
rubberwood growing regions.
27

Implement a strict quality control system. This can
be done by requiring manufacturers, processor and
suppliers of rubberwood to register and secure
license from an appropriate government agency but
only after they have established basic minimum
facilities for kiln drying and preservative treatment.
Furthermore, no rubber product should be exported
unless certified that it has been processed according
to a prescribed set of kiln drying and preservative
treatment standards.
28

These requirements are necessary to ensure that the
program promoting the utilization and marketing of
rubberwood in the Philippines is not hampered.
Short cuts in preservative treatment and seasoning
will adversely affected product quality which will have
detrimental consequences to this program
Enactment into Law the “Creation of the Philippine
Rubber Research Institute (PRRI)” whose functions
shall be:
(a) Propagate and promote the planting, maintenance, as
well as wise utilization of rubber trees as source of
latex and finished rubber products;

29
(b) Enable rubber producers and processors, especially
small-holders, to have access to quality rubber tree
seedlings, modern production techniques, and other
support services from production to marketing of
rubber produce;
(c) Undertake training and capacity-building programs
for rubber producers, processors, and cooperatives
in order to increase production of quality rubber and
raise level of income especially of poor small-holders;
30
(d) Aid in the establishment of community-based rubber
enterprises to generate livelihood opportunities and
improve general well-being of the large percentage of
workforce in agricultural communities;
(e) Promote cooperative development among smallholders and provide them access to resources,
technological know-how, as well as decision-making
processes for the enhancement of their rubber
enterprises and the protection of their welfare.
31
32