COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR BAMBOO MARINDUQUE: A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY-LED BAMBOO DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT

Bamboo is one of the most valuable non-timber forest products and could be the best alternate for wood in the country has affected the lives of the local community in terms of economic, environmental, and social aspects. The study purposely assessed the community needs for bamboo in Marinduque as a strategic framework for community-led bamboo development and engagement, specifically in the identified twelve (12) barangays in the province. Planning, field data collection, primary data tabulation, data interpretation and processing, and conclusion and recommendation are the five (5) major processes involved in the study to generate valuable data. The methodology included a custom questionnaire for field interviews with sampling intensity of 40% of the household population of the identified barangay in the Province of Marinduque. Economically, bamboo is viewed as a valuable source of livelihood that can generate income, create employment, and provide affordable raw materials for local businesses. Environmentally, bamboo is highly regarded for its deep capacity to enhance soil fertility, control erosion, and act as a natural barrier against strong winds. Socially, bamboo plays a vital role in providing construction materials, furniture, and handicrafts, which precisely upkeep the daily essentials and cultural identity of the local community. However, other social uses such as medicine, fodder, and textile fiber production are sensed with a lesser importance because of limited practical application and high production costs. In response to these findings, a proposed organizational framework of implementation was formulated to provide a practical, participatory, and locally based approach to bamboo engagement and development. A short, medium and long-term plan was recommended in the study to benefit and guide the implementers.