The time of the 'lowly' bamboo or kawayan, often associated with the Filipino qualities of resilience and adaptability, just might have come. Bamboo proponents believe this to be long overdue and have been advocating that the government list the use of the grass as a priority industry for development.

When it comes to climate change and environmental protection, bamboo, in comparison to trees, has a higher capacity to absorb and sequester carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. It also has a high capacity for rainwater infiltration.