SUSTAINABILITY OF BAMBOO BUSINESS IN SAN ANTONIO BOMBON CAMARINES SUR

This study examined the sustainability of bamboo enterprises in Barangay San Antonio, Bombon Camarines Sur, focusing on their economic, environmental, and social conditions. Using the Triple Bottom Line framework (People, Planet, and Profit), the study described the long-term sustainability potential of this long-standing community industry, which faces issues such as limited capital, restricted market access, and decreasing bamboo resources. The study was conceptually anchored with Social Capital Theory, Triple Helix Model of Innovation Theory, and Ecological Modernization Theory, which provided theoretical support in understanding community participation, institutional support, and environmental sustainability practices in the bamboo industry. A total of fifteen (15) bamboo entrepreneurs answered a structured questionnaire that gathered information about their years of operation, capital, ownership, production volume, market reach, and resources used. These findings showed that the bamboo business in San Antonio, Bombon, Camarines Sur remains culturally strong and resilient, passed on from generation to generation. However, its sustainability is affected by low income, lack of capital, a small market, and limited product or material variety. The industry’s small capital and limited workforce also make it vulnerable to supply shortages and prevent modernization. Key challenges include low capitalization, a small labor force, and limited market access, while opportunities lie in raising awareness about the bamboo industry, diversifying products, and improving access to financial support. This study proposed measures and recommended strategies to enhance the sustainability of the bamboo industry in San Antonio, Bombon, Camarines Sur, including prioritizing market expansion initiatives, improving access to micro-lending programs, and institutionalizing knowledge transfer mechanisms to support the long-term viability and sustainable development of bamboo-based enterprises.