1

STATUS OF RUBBERWOOD STATUS OF RUBBERWOOD PROCESSING PROCESSING

AND UTILIZATION IN THE AND UTILIZATION IN THE PHILIPPINESPHILIPPINES

Forest Products Research & Development Institute Department of Science and Technology

By

FELIX B. TAMOLANG, Director III

2

Introduction Distribution and Supply Potential Value Of Available Supply Basic Properties & Characteristics Technological & Working

Properties Utilization Constraints in Utilization of

Rubberwood Conclusion and Recommendations

3

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

4

5

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

6

S = 0.00000000r = 1.00000000

Year

AR

EA

(m

illio

n h

as

)

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

CHANGE IN FOREST COVER

7

8

Para rubber Hevea brasiliensis (HBK) Muell.-Arg.Family Euphorbiaceae

9

Area (has.)

0%0%19%

2%3%

14%

9%2%

51%

CALABARZON

MIMAROPA

Zamboanga Peninsula

Northern Mindanao

Davao Region

SOCSARGEN

ARMM

Caraga

Total Philippines

Region Area (has.) 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

Total Philippines 111,845 35,446,486

10

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

11

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

12

TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR RUBBERWOOD INDUSTRIES

13

1.1. Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development

2.2. Product Testing and Product Testing and CertificationCertification

3.3. Establishment of Common Establishment of Common Service Facilities (CSF)Service Facilities (CSF)

4.4. Manpower DevelopmentManpower Development

5.5. Provision of Technical Support Provision of Technical Support and Services and Services

Major Components of FPRDI Technical Services

14

Basic Properties and Basic Properties and CharacteristicsCharacteristics

15

SpeciesSpecies Relative Relative DensityDensity

(Kg/m(Kg/m33 ) )

Color Color (Heartwood)(Heartwood)

GrainGrain TextureTexture LusterLuster

Para Para RubberRubber

582-640582-640 White to Pale White to Pale cream with cream with

pinkish tingepinkish tinge

Straight to Straight to interlockedinterlocked

Moderately Moderately coarsecoarse

LowLow

YemaneYemane 438-506438-506 Cream to light Cream to light yellow brownyellow brown

Straight to Straight to moderately moderately interlockedinterlocked

FineFine HighHigh

Mahogany Mahogany 575-616575-616 Reddish brownReddish brown Straight to Straight to interlockedinterlocked

Moderately Moderately finefine

HighHigh

MangiumMangium 500-600500-600 Dark brownDark brown StraightStraight FineFine HighHigh

Physical Properties of Plantation–Grown Trees in the Phils.Physical Properties of Plantation–Grown Trees in the Phils.

16

SpeciesSpecies Shrinkage (green-12%MC)Shrinkage (green-12%MC) Dimen-Dimen-sional sional

MovementMovement

Natural Natural Durability Durability

(Heart (Heart wood)wood)

RadialRadial TangentialTangential VolumetricVolumetric

Para RubberPara Rubber 1.21.2 2.52.5 3.73.7 LowLow PerishablePerishable

YemaneYemane 3.33.3 5.25.2 8.38.3 MediumMedium Moderately Moderately durabledurable

Mahogany Mahogany 1.31.3 1.71.7 3.03.0 LowLow Moderately Moderately durabledurable

MangiumMangium 1.31.3 2.62.6 -- Moderately Moderately lowlow

Non-durableNon-durable

Physical Properties of Plantation-Grown Trees Physical Properties of Plantation-Grown Trees in the Phils.in the Phils.

17

Mechanical Properties of Plantation-grown hardwoods in the Phils.Mechanical Properties of Plantation-grown hardwoods in the Phils.

SpeciesClass IISpeciesClass II Strenght Strenght GroupingGrouping

Comparable SpeciesComparable Species

Para RubberPara Rubber Class IVClass IV MayapisMayapis

YemaneYemane Class IIIClass III Narra, Philippine Narra, Philippine MahoganyMahoganyMahogany Mahogany Class IIIClass III

MangiumMangium Class IIClass II NarraNarra

18

Working propertiesWorking properties

19

Working properties of plantation-grown hardwoods in the PhilippinesWorking properties of plantation-grown hardwoods in the Philippines

SpeciesSpecies Sawing & Sawing & MachiningMachining

DryingDrying TreatabilityTreatability NailingNailing

Para RubberPara Rubber GoodGood EasyEasy Moderately Moderately permeablepermeable

Tends to splitTends to split

MahoganyMahogany GoodGood EasyEasy Extremely Extremely resistantresistant

EasyEasy

YemaneYemane GoodGood Easy Easy (fairly (fairly slow)slow)

ResistantResistant Very easyVery easy

MangiumMangium GoodGood Easy Easy resistantresistant EasyEasy

20

Working properties of plantation-grown hardwoods in the Phils.Working properties of plantation-grown hardwoods in the Phils.

SpeciesSpecies FinishingFinishing Steam Steam BendingBending

GluingGluing RemarksRemarks

Para RubberPara Rubber GoodGood PoorPoor EasyEasy Warp often severe. Warp often severe. Susceptible to blue Susceptible to blue stain and borer stain and borer attackattack

MahoganyMahogany GoodGood PoorPoor EasyEasy --YemaneYemane GoodGood FairFair EasyEasy Slight blunting effect Slight blunting effect

on cutting toolson cutting tools

MangiumMangium GoodGood Very Very goodgood

Moderately Moderately easyeasy

Lumber susceptible Lumber susceptible to warpto warp

21

22

23

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.

24

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.

25

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.

26

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.

27

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.

28

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.

29

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;

30

(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;

31

(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 small-holders 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.

32