SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF BURI MOTHER PLANT (Corypha elata Roxb) IN

THE 1ST DISTRICT OF BOHOL, PHILIPPINES

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Zamora, Bilar, Bohol

FLORDELIZA L. BUTAL

JUNE 2017
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF BURI MOTHER PLANT IN THE 1ST DISTRICT OF
BOHOL

____________________________

A Thesis Proposal
Presented to the Faculty of the
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
BOHOL ISLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Zamora, Bilar, Bohol

____________________________

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

_____________________________

FLORDELIZA L. BUTAL

JUNE 2017
 Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

Rationale

Palms belong to the Arecaceae family, which comprises some 2, 450 species,

distributed mainly throughout the tropics and subtropics. The palm family is highly

variable and exhibits a tremendous morphological diversity. Palms are found in a wide

range of tropical and subtropical ecological zones, but they are most common in the

understorey of tropical humid forests (Johnson, 2010).

Buri (Corypha utan Lam.) of the family Arecaceae is one of the palms in the

Philippines with multiple uses. It is considered to be the third most important palm in the

country, after coconut and nipa palm (Brink & Escobin 2003). The fronds or the large

fan-shaped leaves are the most important part of the plant. From it, three types of raw

materials can be derived namely, buri, raffia, and buntal fibers. Buri is the matured leaf

used in the manufacture of placemats, hats and braids. The leaflets are also used for

house thatches and wall materials especially in the countryside. Raffia is the young

shoot or leaf of the palm. It is commercially traded in bleached or unbleached form and

is usually woven for conversion into various handicraft items like cloth, hats, mats, bags,

folders, portfolios, shoes, slippers and other handicraft items. It is also used for tying,

décor and wrapping materials (FIDA, 2006).

According to Johnson (1998), buri palm has a very wide distribution in Asia, most

often in drier more open areas. It is typically found in association with settlements,

suggesting that humans may have contributed to its current geographic range. In the
Philippines, Marinduque province is one of the known sources of buri palms. Estimates

showed that buri is planted in 326.32 hectares in this province. Buntal handloom

weaving is one of the more important income-generating activities in the province of

Marinduque. According to DTI Marinduque, the total value of processed buntal varied

from P2M to P4M in 2007-2010. An average of 12.5 metric tons of buntal fiber was

produced every year from 2000 to 2009 nationwide. Most of the fiber came from the

provinces of Bohol, Panganiban, Palawan, Marinduque, and Quezon (FIDA, 2010).

Buri (Corypha elata Roxb) is the largest palm found in the Philippines. It is one of

the most important palm, next to the coconut, in terms of economic and industrial

importance. The buri leaf is the most versatile material used in handicraft industry. It is

used for making hats, boxes and other novelty items. It can be easily dyed and woven

into many shapes. (CCAPI, 2000).

Bohol, being one of the major producers of buntal fiber in the Philippines is also

abundant with buri palm. Weavers in Inabanga, Bohol also use raffia fibers extracted

from young unopened buri leaf sheaths. Buri palms are available locally yet with the

volume needed in production, more of this raw material is needed. To ensure

continuous supply of raw materials, the local government has also established a buri

palm plantation covering 25 hectares of land in Inabanga since 2005.

The rising popularity of buri’s products, however, has resulted to mark increase in

demand for buntal fibers and a considerably shortage during peak months. Even though

Bohol is the one of the known sources of buri palms in region VII, there is low supply of
the fibers which is an important raw material in handloom weaving. This limits the

expansion of production for both the local and export markets.

With this premise, the researcher will conduct a study on the spatial distribution

of buri mother plant. This study will be conducted in the whole first district of Bohol from

October to December.

Literature Background

The following are the related readings that serve as the legal bases of the study:

On February 24, 2011, President Benigno S. Aquino III issued Executive Order

26, declaring the implementation of the National Greening Program as a government

priority program to reduce poverty, promote food security, environmental stability and

enhance climate change mitigation and adaption. The EO supports and complements

EO No. 23, an earlier direction of President Aquino, which bans logging in natural and

residual forest as well as Proclamation No. 125, declaring 2011 as the National Year of

Forest in the Philippines. It mandates the DA-DAR-DENR Convergence initiative to be

the oversight committee for the program, with DENR as the lead agency

(forestry.denr.gov.ph/EO26.pdf)

Under the Forestry Sector Administrative Order (AO) No. 09, a mother tree is one

selected from among the forest stand from which to gather seeds for propagation

purposes. It aims to establish well-adapted population of forest trees, which should

provide a sustained supply of forest tree seeds and other planting stocks for the

country’s collection and distribution and use of forest tree seeds and other forms of

planting materials (De Vera, 2010).

 Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Project

(ASEM/2006/190) revealed that the quality of mother tree receives little attention from

seeding producers involved in germplasm collection (Gregorio et al., 2010; Edralin et

al., 2010). The lack of knowledge about the approximate germplasm collection methods,

and limited access to mother trees are common reasons for nursery operators collecting

germplasm without considering the phenotypic quality of mother trees. A knowledge gap

regarding the ideal qualities of mother trees also exists and this results in seeding

producers collecting germplasm form inferior trees. The phenotypic characteristics of

mother trees were assessed following the method developed by DENR (Cacanindin et

al., 2000) to choose the appropriate mother trees. The phenotypic quality is described

based on the criteria such as stem growth, stem form, health and branching

characteristics.

Republic Act 8435 known as “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act”, sec 2,

states that the State shall promote development that is compatible with the preservation

of the ecosystem in areas where agriculture and fishery activities are carried out. The

State shall exert care and judicious use of the country’s natural resources in order to

attain long term sustainability ( Oposa, 2002).

Section 3 of the same law states that the State should provide social and

economic adjustment measure to increase productivity and improve market efficiency

while ensuring the preservation and protection of environment and equity for small

farmers and fisher folks (Oposa, 2002).

 Furthermore, chapter 1, section 5 which is the declaration of policy provides that

the State should ensure that all sectors of the economy and all regions of the country

shall be given optimum support to each other’s area in order to maximize agriculture

and productivity, promote efficiency and equity and accelerate the modernization of the

agriculture and fisheries sectors of the country.

The following literature provide background information about this study:

As a minor forest plant, the different parts of buri, like the trunk, stem, leaves,

buds, and fruits, have many uses. Its petiole is a source of `buntal' fiber, the only

material used in making `Lucban' hats, popularly made in Southern Luzon. The

unopened leaf or shoot is a source of raffia fiber used in making cloth, good quality hats,

mats, and bags. The stem has a potential as building material. Buri production provides

an alternative source of income for farmers and producers. Buri production enhances

ecological rehabilitation and biodiversity in open areas. (FFTC, 2017).

In the Philippines, a substantial export industry has long existed in products

crafted from the leaves of the palm they call ‘buri’ (Brown and Merrill,1919). Calapis

(2011) record that in the year 2000 the size of this export amounted to $53 million. Of

greatest value is the fine fibre bundles called ‘buntal’ extracted from C. utan leaf petioles

and converted into such things as the fashionable “Lucban” hats and hand bags (The

Buri Bag Project, 2016).

The fruit of the buri tree is a cheap source of food and a good source of starch. It

is served as snack and is ready to eat. An average tree would yield up to 8-10 cavans of

fruits, which can be sold up to Php 300.00 per sack. The midrib can be used into shoes,
stick broom or for weaving. The trunk can be used as firewood and as wood frames into

making nipa huts. It can also be used as temporary aqueduct for irrigation. The tree

helps prevent soil erosion and maintain the ecological balance of the forest.

The following related studies justify the existence to this study:

Espiloy (1989) studied the anatomical properties of five erect palms in the

Philippines, including the trunk of buri, the characteristics of the bundles varies, from the

number of metaxylem vessels to the number of fiber caps comprising the bundle. From

all the types of bundles enumerated, the vascular bundle of buri petioles was uniquely

different. Though the basic components of the bundle of these materials were also

present in the buri petiole eg., one metaxylem vessel, a protoxylem field, phloem and

parenchyma.

According to Brink and Escobin (2003), Buri is one of the palms in the Philippines

with multiple uses. It is considered to be the third most important palm in the country

after coconut and nipa palm. The trunk yield has large quantities of food materials in the

form of starch, wine, alcohol, vinegar, syrup and sugar can be produced from the sap.

The kernel young fruit is made into sweets, while the buds are used for salad or as

vegetable. The leaf is the most important part of the Buri palm. The petiole yield the so

called “buntal fiber” of which the lucban hats are made.

According to Brown and Merrill 1919, noted that C. utan also occurs very widely

dispersed in the Philippines extending from Northern Luzon, Southern Mindanao,

Palawan to the Sulu Archipelago as scattered palms and occasionally planted groves.

In some places it is exceedingly abundant gregarious and locally the dominant species
amounting to thousands of hectares in the Rio Chico region, Pampanga Provinces,

Luzon there is a Buri forest covering approximately 5,000 hectares with 9,205,710 buri

palms mostly over 2 meters height but without clear trunks. Of such sizes, there were

6,368,432 palms on the area. Buri is especially abundant in the Provinces of

Pangasinan, Pampanga, Tayabas, Camarines and Sorsogon in Luzon, and in parts of

islands of Palawan, Mindoro, Panay, Negros, Masbate, Cebu, Bohol, and Mindanao.

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

The main thrust of this study is to map spatial distribution of buri mother plant in

the 1st district of Bohol.

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the geographic locations of the buri mother plant in the 1 st district of

Bohol?

2. How large is the land area (ha) planted with buri does the 1st district have?

3. What is the average height (m) and circumference of buri mother plant in the 1 st

district of Bohol?
 4. What are the landscapes attributes specifically the location, landform,

topographic position, slope, parent material, drainage, and land use history of the

area where buri tree grows?

5. What are the climate characteristics?

a. Rainfall (mm/yr.)

b. Temperature (◦c)

c. Humidity

6. What are the characteristics of soil planted with buri?

a. Soil color

b. Soil texture

c. Soil structure

d. Soil pH

7. What are the characteristics of soil in terms of planting buri?

a. Soil color

b. Soil texture

c. Soil structure

d. Soil pH

Significance of the Study

The study will be used as reference to the raffia and loom weavers and will serve

as a source of information to the people that will engage in this industry as they become

aware of the geographic distribution of buri mother plant. Result of this study will serve
as basis of the government in designing and implementing projects that will help to the

people who rely to buri products as their source of living. Hence, this study is vital in

alleviating poverty to the community.The study will be useful to the following group of

people and institutions.

Government. The findings of the study will be useful as a complementary basis

in implementing projects as they become aware of the spatial distribution of buri mother

plant in the 1st district of Bohol.

University. The result of the study will be useful to both research and extension

units of the academic institution. This will serve as reference or source of information to

the people who are in other areas of research.

Student Researchers. This study will serve as a basis of student researchers

who will also conduct a study which is related to buri.

Environmental Impact. The outputs of the study will be useful in promoting

environmental awareness. Through this study, the community people will become

aware of another source of income which they can engage.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Design

The data will be gathered through purposive random sampling and

analyzed using frequency and percentage, we will determine the landscape attributes

and map the coordinates according to the site distance and features of buri trees with

the use of Quantum Geographic Information System to get biometric measurement. It

will be an assessment of Spatial Distribution of buri including the average diameter/

height and specific number of buri trees within less or more. The study will be

conducted in the 1st District municipalities of Bohol.

Procedure

1. Preliminary Procedure

1.1. Preparation of survey permit

1.2. Preparation of instruments/materials

1.3. Installation of computer program and applications for android

1.4. 3 days of training

Purpose: Learn how to use installed programs

1.5. Courtesy call

2. Secondary Procedure

1.6. Preparation of semi-structure questionnaires

1.7. Determination of ground coordinates

- Get the ground coordinates, I will use the GPS technology and with the

help of Google Map to make it more accurate.

1.8. Biometric measurement

- Height and diameter will be determined by the use of biltmor stick

1.9. Collection of soil samples

- The instrument will be used for soil sampling are the following: shovel,

plastic bags, meter stick and bolo. The hole will be 0.5 meter deep.

3. Mapping
In mapping, it focuses on Spatial Variability of specific distribution such as population or

measurement. This map will be used for spatial analysis. It shows the Spatial

Distributions of one or more data for the first district municipalities in Bohol.

Questionnaire Preparation

A requirement for acquiring such as information is felt on the basis of secondary

information and the type of key information acquired by direct observation during the

field visit. The collections of data will be used semi-structure questionnaire as the

preparation of final output map.

Environment and Participants

This study will be conducted from June to October in the towns of the first district

of Bohol which composed of 15 towns.

Alburquerque is a fifth class municipality in the Province of Bohol, Philippines.

Alburquerque was recognized as an official town in Bohol on June 9, 1868. It is located

in the easthern part of Bohol 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) away from Tagbilaran City. It is

classified as a 5th class municipality of the 1st congressional District of Bohol with an

IRA share of 8,891,774.00 as of 1999.

Antequera is a fourth class municipality of the Province of Bohol, Philippines,

about 18 kilometers (11mi) north of Tagbilaran City. The primary economic activities are

farming, handicraft or cottage industries (specially basket weaving) and carpentry

(including bamboo and wood furniture making). Its main agricultural produce comprises

coconut, rice, corn, root crops, and vegetables. Land area of Antequera (as of 2007, in
hectares) 11,869. Antequera is well known for its native basket ware. Basket weaving

has been the municipality’s main industry for years. Baskets ranging from the smallest

to the biggest can be found and woven freely by locals who have been into the industry

for years. These woven crops are made out of wicker, rattan, bamboo, buri, nito, and

sig-id and other native materials.

Baclayon is the fourth class municipality in the Province of Bohol which is

originally called as bacayan because travelers used to detour around a rocky cliff along

the shore about half kilometer from the municipal. Its total land area is 3,402 hectares

with 17 barangays, 16 inland and 1 island which is known as pamilacan island that is

situated 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) south from the main land. There are only 200 families

living in the island. Baclayon is 7 kilometers away from the capital city of the Province in

Bohol. The top livestock that are raised mostly by farmers are hogs, cattle, carabao and

goat.

Balilihan is a fourth class municipality of the Province of Bohol, Philippines.

Balilihan is located 22 kilometers (14 mi) northeast of Tagbilaran through Cortes (via

CPG North Avenue), or 20 kilometers (12 mi) northeast through Corella (via J.A Clarin

Street). It has the fourth largest land area of the province, with 150.22 square kilometers

(58.00 sq mi) of land. The place of panorama of verdant hills, rugged mountains and

green fields. It is said to have been so named because of the grass “balili” which grow in

abundance. Before the beginning of the 19th century, Balilihan was a barrio of Baclayon

and an old settlement.

 Calape is a town situated in the northwestern part of Bohol, along the western

coast, facing the island of Cebu on the north. The town was formerly known as cape-

specie of rattan which used to grow abundantly in the area. Through the years, the

name was modified and finally became Calape. It is about 41.4 kilometers from

Tagbilaran City and is adjacent to the town of Tubigon, Bohol’s second major port. Its

population is pegged at 29,786 according to the 2007 census (http://www.bohol-

philippines.com /calape.html).

Catigbian is a fourth income class municipality in the Province of Bohol,

Philippines, located 35 kilometers (22 mi) north of Tagbilaran. Another achievement is

the institution of the Katigbawan Festival where in the culture and tradition of the

Catigbianons are displayed. The Festival is a great means for the promotion of tourism,

of ecological and agricultural pursuits, the enhancement of folk beliefs and of the natural

environment. The Festival comprises an agro-fair, crafts fair, competitions in boxing,

basketball and other traditional games, derby in cockfighting, display of best livestock,

the carabaos pageant, street dancing competitions, singing contests and the yearly

search for Miss Katigbawan. Aside from being known for the raising of livestock such as

cows, carabaos, swine, goats, chickens, and others; the people of Catigbian are also

into farming, the collection of the sap of the “Hagakhak” tree for export, the production

of bamboo products, while the residents of the mountain barangays are into sawali and

basket weaving (http://www.bohol-philippines.com /catigbian.html).

Corella is located ten kilometers northeast of Tagbilaran City, the capital of

Bohol province. Before it was made into a separate municipality, it was known as barrio

“nug-as” a part of municipality of Baclayon, which was the first regular municipality
established by the Spaniards on the Province of Bohol. The name “nug-as” was

changed to “Corella” when it was established into a regular municipality on September

3, 1884 by the virtue of the Royal order of the Governor General of the Philippines. Rev.

Fr. Jose Maria Caban as a Spanish priest of the Roman Catholic religion,who then

served as the first parish priest of Corella for a month, reportedly suggested the name

“Corella” in honor of its patron Saint, Nuestra Senora Del Villar who made her miracle in

the village of Corella, Navara, Spain. Since then, the town has been known as Corella in

the community of local government units. The municipality of Corella is located in the

interior part in the island of Bohol. It is the first town northeast of the City of Tagbilaran

with a distance of 10 kilometers. It has a total land area of 3,722.14 hectares.

Cortes is the municipality in the Province of Bohol that lies northeast of the City

of Tagbilaran about 10 kilometers away; more or less about 15 minutes travel time. Its

nearest neighbor along the national highway, opposite that of the Tagbilaran side, is the

town of Maribojoc. The town occupies a total land area of 4,377 hectares with a

population of 14,586 people according to the 2007 census. It is considered as a 5 th

class municipality. Cortes is the site of the sprawling southern industrial projects and its

subsidiary.Rolling Mills which produces colored and non-colored galvanized iron or

roofing. The Rolling Mills is situated high up on a plateau overlooking the Abatan River.

The town is also known for handmate paper products chosen now as the town’s priority

product under the Department of Trade and Industry’s One Town, One Product (OTOP)

Program. Aside from the manufacturing and handicraft industries, the people of Cortes

are also into agribusiness.

 Dauis is one of the two municipalities comprising Panglao Island, the other being

Panglao. It is a 4th class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines and has a

population of 36,139 people according to the 2007 census occupying a land mass of

4,288 hectares.

Loon is a flourishing town and the third municipality on the western coast of

Bohol from the capital of the province, Tagbilaran City. It is some 25 km north-west of

Tagbilaran City, along the route to Tubigon. With wide cemented road, it is very

accessible by public utility buses and jeepneys, as well as vans-for-hire. It is next to the

municipality of Maribojoc and next to it is the town of Calape.

Maribojoc is a coastal town on the southwestern part of Bohol. The municipality

is 14 km away from the province’s capital, Tagbilaran City, and may take at

approximately 30 minutes from the capital to the town. The municipality offers a

panoramic view of the neighboring island, Cebu province. Considered a 4 th class

municipality, the town occupies an area of 5, 192 hectares. Town’s hall is located just

beside the road leading to Tagbilaran City. The town was said to be named after a tree

which resembles a pine tree (Agoho), whose leaves look like hairs but thicker and firmer

compared to the former. But the original name of the municipality is said Dungguan,

which means “ a place of anchorage”. It was an appropriate name because the town is

on a little cove which is fairly sheltered from strong winds. The tree was abundant in the

locality. The local call it Maria Buhok (Hair) in the ancient times which, after many

generations, was uttered Maribojoc.

 Panglao is located southwest of Bohol and east of Cebu. Panglao Island is

divided into 2 municipalities: Dauis and Panglao. This island has gained a reputation as

one of the most choice destinations in the Philippines. Renowned and celebrated for its

stunning coral reefs, dive spots and a manifold of islets fitting for sun worshippers. The

serene ambiance of the island as well as its proximity to world’s famous sites -the

Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Tarsier Sanctuary and the myriad of falls, springs and

caves make this unblemished island an impeccable must-see tourist spot.

Sikatuna is a fifth income class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines,

17 kilometers (11 mi) from Tagbilaran. Sikatuna was formerly a part of the towns of

Baclayon and Alburquerque. It has a total area of 3,822 hectares (9,440 acres), making

it the smallest municipality in Bohol. The town is named after Datu Sikatuna, the ancient

chieftain of Bohol, although there is no evidence that he lived in the area. Sikatuna

became its own town in 1917.

Tagbilaran is a component city in the island province of Bohol, Philippines,

serving as its capital. Its income classification is 3rd class with the city having an annual

income of P240-320 million. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 96,

792. Tagbilaran lies in the southwestern part of the province, and has a total land area

of 32.70 km2 (12.63 sq mi), with a coastline of 13 km (8.1 mi). The city shares its

boundaries with the towns of Cortes, Corella, and Baclayon. It is 630 km (390 mi)

southeast of the national capital of Manila and 72 km (45 mi) south of the original

capital, Cebu City. It is the principal gateway to Bohol and is known as the “City of

Friendship”. Tagbilaran is considered by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia as one of the

eight Philippine Dream Cities. It was also recognized as one of the 20 “Most
Competitive Cities in the Philippines” and “Pinoy Cities on the Rise” in 2005 and 2007,

and first in the Quality of Life Category for the same two years, awarded by the Asian

Institute of Management (AIM) Policy Center.

Tubigon is a first income class municipality and seaport on the province of

Bohol, Philippines, at 51 kilometers (32 mi) from Tagbilaran. Agriculture fishing is the

backbone of the Tubigon economy. Sixty percent (60%) of the total land area of the

municipality is devoted to agriculture and other related industries. The town’s main

agricultural products are include among others rice, corn, coconut, bananas and

different variety of vegetables. Aquatic resources are also a major component in the

agri-based economy. Cut flower and cottage industry is also thriving in the upland

barangays due to the favorable climate and suitable soil of these areas.
 Figure 1. Map of Bohol showing the study sites in (yellow stars).

Instruments and Materials

The following are the instruments, supplies and materials needed in the conduct

of the study:
 Android phone, laptop, ballpen, record book, weighing scale, plastic bags, sacks,

shovel, bolo, biltmor stick, and motorcycle for transportation. GPS, QGIS, google earth,

geo cam and urux map are also needed for mapping and identifying of coordinates of

the buri tree.

Statistical Treatment

The collected data will be tallied, collated, tabulated and analysed using the

simple percentage based on the frequency counts from the interview and from the

answers from the questionnaire.

Formula

P=F/N x 100

P= Percentage

F= Frequency of responses

N= Number of respondents

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Biltmor Stick. An instrument used to measure the height and diameter of the

buri palm.

Buntal Fiber. A fiber from the petiole of buri tree.

Buri. The largest palm specie in the country.

Distribution. Dispersion of the specie in particular location.

 Geographic Information System (GIS). Described as an organized collection of

computer hardware, software, geographic data and personal design which is efficiently

capture, store, update, analyze, and display that all forms of geographically reference

information.

Global Positioning System (GPS). An instrument used to determine the

geographic location of buri mother plant in the second district of Bohol.

Google Earth Pro. A computer programs used to measure the coordinates of

the buri plants.

Merchantable height. The height of the buri plant from the ground to the trunk

below the fronds.

Mother Plant. A tree that is selected from among forest stand from which to

gather seeds for propagation /regeneration purposes.

Spatial. Relating to the space and the relation of object.

Total height. Height from the ground up to the tip portion of the buri palm.

REFERENCES

Calapis et al.,Philippine Journal of Science 140 (1): 69-77, June 2011. Structural

Characterization of Buri (Corypha utan Lam.) Petioles

Johnson, Dennis, Non-wood Forest Products 10/ Rev. 1 Tropical Palms 2010 revision
Muller, Theodore, Industrial Fiber Plants of the Philippines 49. Bureau of Education

1913

https://boholtowns.wordpress.com

https://www.ars.usda.gov/ARSUserFiles/80400525/Data/Hg72..2002pdf

https://www.stuartxchange.com/Buri.html

www.fao.org/docrep/X0451E/x0451e11.html

www.gov.ph/02/04/executive-order-no-26-2/