Educating for forest industries in the Philippines

Domingo M. Lantican

DOMINGO M. LANTICAN is Professor of Wood Technology, College of Forestry, University of the Philippines at Los Baños.

The Philippines has a total land area of 30 million hectares, out of which 57 percent - 17 million hectares - is classified as forest land. Commercial forest has an area of 7.37 million hectares; non-commercial forest of 4.72 million hectares can be developed and brought back to production. National policy calls for a permanent forest area of 40 percent (12 million hectares); forestry is therefore expected to continue to be a main source of revenue for the country.

The annual cut is about 14 million cubic metres, which places the Philip pines 15th in rank among the world's timber producers and the fifth in plywood production.

Composition of the stand is mixed tropical hardwood with Dipterocarps as the predominating species. Softwood species are limited to higher elevations and occupy a total area of approximately only 200 000 hectares. At present less than a hundred or so species are considered commercial, but these compose the main bulk of the commercial stand, estimated at 1.6 thousand million cubic metres.

Besides export earnings, the industry provides employment, to over 350 000 people directly and close to 2 million people are dependent on it for their livelihood. But in spite of its importance, the country's economists continue to criticize the export of forest products because of the predominance of raw timber over finished products in the international trade. For a country in which unemployment is a vexing problem, such a situation cannot escape the attention of national planners; therefore the phasing out of timber export has been adopted as a national policy. However, the total ban scheduled for January 1976 has not been fully implemented.

The restriction on the exportation of logs is designed to stimulate the processing of wood products in the country in the hope that it will bring in more foreign exchange and also provide more employment opportunities. At present there are over 400 wood-processing plants in the country. These include 355 sawmills with a total capacity of about 7 million board feet daily; 18 veneer mills; 31 plywood mills; 22 pulp and paper mills; 2 fibreboard plants and 13 blackboard plants. In addition there are several furniture factories which utilize wood as raw material.

An ambitious plan for expanding existing plants and building new mills has been approved by the Government. This means that the number of people now employed by the wood-using industry must increase correspondingly. Within three years from the time the log embargo is implemented, over 20 thousand additional workers will be needed by the forest industry. Since most of these people must be in the skilled category, it is important that an intensive training programme be conducted by the country.

The professional foresters employed by the industry may be grouped into those who are employed in the field or forest (e.g., in silviculture, forest management, forest inventory and logging) and those employed in the mill (sawmilling, wood machining, seasoning, preservation, plywood manufacture and pulp and paper making). At present there are more people employed in the forest than in the mill because the supply of the latter category is quite low and the major output of the industry is logs rather than processed products.

Professional training in forestry is available in most of the 15 or so schools of forestry in the country.

Best equipped is the College of Forestry of the University of the Philip pines at Los Baños, established in 1910. Training is offered in the fields of forest biological sciences, forest resources management, forestry extension and wood science and technology.

Two aspects of forest production are emphasized at the professional level:

(i) the silviculture, management and protection of the natural forest; and
(ii) the establishment and management of forest plantations.

The former assumes importance in that almost all forest lands in the Philippines are government owned and its utilization must conform with the national policy of sustained yield management through selective logging. The latter is now gaining importance especially with the growth of the pulp and paper industry which gives assurance of a ready market for plantation-grown trees. Training in these areas is available at both the undergraduate and the graduate level.

The undergraduate programme covers a period of four years, with six weeks of practice in the field. It is a general course in forest resources management which includes silviculture, forest management, forest economics, forest protection, administration, and logging and transport. In addition, there is provision for elective subjects in various specialized fields. The coverage of the typical curriculum is broken down into 69 credit units of general education and other basic courses, 17 of forest biological sciences, 37 of forest resources management, 12 of wood science and technology, 12 of electives and 6 weeks of practicum, making a total of 153 units of credit. A credit unit may mean a one-hour lecture a week or a three-hour laboratory class a week. A subject consisting of 3 one-hour lectures a week is given 3 units of credit. A subject with 2 one-hour lectures and one 3-hour laboratory class a week likewise is given 3 units of credit. (See Table 1 for the Bachelor of Science in Forestry curriculum.)

Field work is emphasized which may range from 6 to 9 hours a week on the average for most technical subjects.

Training in wood science and technology leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Forest Products Engineering. Graduate degrees in the Master's or Ph.D levels are also available.

Graduates of the BSFPE curriculum are expected to know wood identification, the physical and mechanical properties of wood and the various aspects of wood processing such as sawmilling, wood machining, wood seasoning and preservation, plywood manufacture and wood lamination, wood finishing and pulp and paper technology. The course extends over a period of four years and two six-week summer sessions, one of which is devoted to experience in the industry. The course is composed of the following: 82 units of credits of general education and basic sciences, 21 of engineering science, 31 of wood science and technology, 15 of electives and 6 of practicum. (The course analysis is shown in Table 2.)

A PLYWOOD MILL - getting more attention in the university

The technical subjects usually consist of 2 one-hour lectures and one 3-hour laboratory class a week.

The BSFPE programme in the Philippines is given by only one institution-the College of Forestry of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños which has a well-equipped Department of Wood Science and Technology. The students and faculty members of this College also have access to the facilities of the Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission located on the same campus.

Table 1. - FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN FORESTRY

College of Forestry, University of the Philippines at Los Baños

Subjects	Credit units
General education and basic courses
English literature, speech, scientific writing	15
Humanities, Philippine Institution	6
Social sciences	12
Biology	6
Chemistry	5
Physics	3
Mathematics including analytical geometry and calculus	9
Spanish	12
Technical drawing	1
	69
Forest biological sciences
Morphology	5
Tree physiology and ecology	6
Entomology, pathology	6
	17
Forest resources management
Forest biometry, statistics	6
Forest engineering	3
Timber harvesting	3
Timber management	3
Geology and forest soils	3
Silviculture	5
Forest policy and administration	3
Forestry economics	3
Forestry business management	3
Multiple-use forestry	2
Communication process (forestry extension)	3
	37
Wood science and technology
Wood structure and identification	3
Wood physics and mechanics	3
Forest products utilization	6
	12
Field experience	5
Electives	12
TOTAL	152

LIST OF USUAL ELECTIVE COURSES

1. Computer programming
2. Cytology
3. Experimental designs
4. Forest genetics and tree improvement
5. Forest parks and recreation manage
6. Forest photointerpretation
7. Forest products entomology
8. Forest products pathology
9. Forest range management
10. Forest road engineering
11. Forestry extension methods
12. Log and lumber grading
13. Microbiology
14. Operations research
15. Planning and control of logging operations
16. Plant physiology
17. Principles of industrial management
18. Production planning and control
19. Programme planning in forestry extension
20. Research problems
21. Sawmilling
22. Special studies in forestry
23. Timber management
24. Topics in mathematical forestry
25. Watershed
26. Wildlife management
27. Wood anatomy
28. Wood chemistry
29. Wood lamination and adhesives
30. Wood machining
31. Wood preservation
32. Wood seasoning

At present, training of technicians for the forest industry in the Philippines is limited. The forestry schools provide a 2-year Ranger course, the graduates of which are employed by the industry in the nurseries and plantations and to help the professional foresters in log and lumber scaling and in forest inventory work. (There used to be a private school for Forest Workers several years ago.) For the workers in the mill, training opportunities are available at the Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission. The University of the Philippines at Los Baños is contemplating a sub-professional 2-year forest products technology curriculum.

In the past, with the exception of the Ranger course, most of the skilled labour in the industry developed through in-service training which has worked quite satisfactorily. However, there is no pool of trained men available for new plants and this has resulted in "pirating" of skilled workers in existing plants. A massive expansion of the industry as envisioned by the country will require a constant supply of trained men.

The Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission (FORPRIDECOM) has as one of its functions the training of manpower for the wood-based industries. It, therefore, conducts training courses in various aspects of wood processing: wood identification, dry kiln operation, wood preservation, sawmilling, log and lumber grading, veneer and plywood production, pulp and paper manufacture, particle and fibreboard manufacture, charcoal production, packaging and timber engineering design (see details in Table 3).

The training consists of lectures, laboratory work, field trips and plant visits. Syllabi, manuals, pamphlets, handouts and other training aids are provided at nominal cost. Examinations, written, oral and practical, are given during the course work to assess the progress of the trainees, and certificates to those who satisfactorily finish the course.

The number of training sessions in a year depends on the industry's demand, the size of the facilities and the number of trainees. The length of the course ranges from 10 days to one month.

The training staff is composed of engineers, foresters, wood technologists, entomologists and other highly trained personnel. In addition, guest lecturers are drawn from the industry and other government agencies when necessary.

The training programme is conducted at the FORPRIDECOM. However, in-plant training is provided upon request. In such cases training teams for specific courses are sent to the company.

Most of the workers employed in the industry are either already skilled having come from another firm or are trained on the job by the more experienced worker. The system of apprenticeship is being encouraged by the Department of Labour as a matter of policy.

The College of Forestry of the Philippines at Los Baños is contemplating instituting a 2-year sub-professional course in forest products technology to train students for work in the wood-using industry. The course will be open to high-school graduates. The training will include wood identification, log and lumber grading, sawmilling, wood machining, knife grinding, lumber kiln operation, wood preservation, veneer and plywood manufacture, gluing, wood finishing and other aspects of wood processing. The course will differ from those at professional level in that they will be on the practical side with emphasis being given to the manipulative skills. The plan is to turn out at least 30 to 40 graduates every year for as long as there is a demand for such graduates.

The Department of Wood Science and Technology, University of the Philippines at Los Baños

The Department of Wood Science and Technology of the University of the Philippines at Los Baños was created in 1963 when the College of Forestry departmentalized the faculty et the same time that it offered major programmed in forest resources management, and wood products engineering.

Table 2. - FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN FOREST PRODUCTS ENGINEERING

College of Forestry, University of the Philippines at Los Baños

Subjects	Credit units
General education and basic courses
English literature, speech, etc.	15
General biology	6
Chemistry	10
Physics	6
Social sciences	12
Humanities, Philippine institutions	6
Mathematics	15
Spanish	12
	82
Wood sciences and technology
Statistics	3
Economics of wood-using industries	3
Forest products	3
Wood structure and identification	3
Wood chemistry	3
Wood physics and timber mechanics	6
Identification of commercial trees	3
Introduction to forest resources management	3
Technical drawing	1
Research problems	2
Seminar	1
	31
Engineering science
Statics, mechanics of rigid bodies in motion	6
Thermodynamics, heat transfer	6
Fluid mechanics	3
Electrical and electronics engineering	3
General surveying	3
	21
Electives	15
Practicum	6
TOTAL	155

Table 3. - FOREST INDUSTRIES MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Offered by Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission (FORPRIDECOM)

Course description		Duration	Admission requirement
1. Wood Identification. General properties of wood; identification of commercial species based on gross and microscopic features		1 month	High-school graduate
2. Dry Kiln Operation. Principles and techniques of wood seasoning; kiln operation and maintenance.		3 weeks	High-school graduate
3. Wood Packaging. General properties of packaging materials; design and selection of packaging materials; performance test of packages and containers.		2 weeks	High-school graduate
4. Quality Control in Veneer and Plywood Manufacture. Basic principles of quality control; raw material, process and product control; statistical quality control.		3 weeks	High-school graduate
5. Veneer and Plywood Technology. Log preparation, veneer cutting, drying, glues and gluing, finishing, testing and evaluation.		4 days	High-school graduate
6. Lumber Grading. Principles and practice of lumber grading.		3 weeks	High-school graduate
7. Log Scaling and Grading. Methods of scaling, grading rules, field practice.		3 weeks	High-school graduate
8. Wood Bending and Lamination. Preparation of materials and bending techniques.		10 days	High-school graduate
9. Wood Treatment Plant Operation. Principles of wood preservation, enemies of wood preservation techniques and economic aspects of wood seasoning.		3 weeks	High-school graduate
10. Sawmilling. Sawmill machinery and accessories, sawmill layouts, production techniques, maintenance; mill residue utilization; marketing.		10 days	Key sawmill personnel
11. Charcoal Production and Briquetting.
	(a) Techniques of charcoal production and briquetting.	15 days	High-school graduate
	(b) Processing and analysis; activated charcoal.	2 months	2nd year college
12. Pulp and Paper Technology. Raw material preparation, pulping techniques, paper making, pulp and paper testing.		2 months	B.S. Chem. B.S. Chem. Eng'g
13. Fibre Studies and Pulp and Paper Analysis. Structure of wood; characteristics of fibres; fibre identification and analysis, etc.		1 month	B.S. Degree Pref. B.S. Chem.
14. Timber Engineering Design. Strength properties of wood; stresses; beams and columns; joints; structural testing, etc.		4 weeks	B.S. Civil Eng'g B.S. Arch. B.S. Forestry
15. Particle Board Manufacture. Preparation of materials, manufacturing process and techniques; testing, etc.		1 month	B.S. Chem. B.S. Forestry
16. Fibreboard Manufacture. Pulping process, board manufacture, testing, etc.		3 weeks	B.S. Chem. B.S. Chem. Eng'g

The function of the department is to provide instruction and undertake research in wood anatomy and identification, the physical and mechanical properties of wood and timber structures, wood chemistry, sawmilling, wood machining, timber seasoning and preservation, wood lamination and plywood manufacture, pulp and paper technology, marketing and distribution and related fields. The department offers an undergraduate course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Forest Products Engineering. It also services the Graduate School of the University by providing graduate courses for the Master's degree and Ph.D. programmed The department is contemplating a sub-professional training course in forest products technology.

For the degree programmes the basic courses in mathematics, chemistry and physics, in addition to the humanities, social science and language courses, are given by the College of Sciences and Humanities. The engineering courses: Statics; Mechanics of Rigid Bodies in Motion; Thermodynamics; Fluid Mechanics; Fundamentals of Heat Transfer and Fundamentals of Electrical and Electronics Engineering are given by the College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology.

The facilities of the department include a Wood Science Building, sawmill and wood-processing laboratory. The laboratories are equipped for studies in wood anatomy, wood properties, wood machinery, wood seasoning, wood preservation. In addition to these, the facilities of the Forest Products Research and Industries Development Commission which is located on the same campus are available for student and faculty research projects.

There are at present 43 students enrolled in the B.S. Forest Products Engineering curriculum and 22 at the graduate level. The students are mostly from the Philippines, but some come from other countries in southeast Asia.

The faculty is composed of 12 members, six of whom hold Ph.D degrees, four with Master's degrees and two with Bachelor's degrees. Within the next two years it is expected that at least 9 members will be holding Ph.D. degrees and all the rest Master's.