DOST develops innovations on processing, storage to protect furniture
DOST develops innovations on processing, storage to protect furniture
Recent reports of bed bugs infesting metal and wooden furniture at Ninoy Aquino International Airport have raised health and safety concerns for airport facilities. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) offers support in addressing this issue by introducing local innovations to enhance furniture made from indigenous materials, such as rattan.
“This news may have caused apprehension towards using rattan and other non-timber forest products (NTFP) for furniture, but DOST-Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) would like to clarify that technologies and methods are available to prolong their service life,” explained Rico J. Cabangon, DOST-FPRDI Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Director.
Cabangon clarified that bed bugs are attracted to the woven pattern of wicker furniture, like rattan, not the material itself. Bed bugs thrive in items with tiny cracks and crevices, regardless of the material—whether rattan, metal, cloth, or concrete.
Apart from bed bugs, rattan furniture can also be infested with biodeterioration agents such as fungi, termites and powder-post beetles or bukbok.
“Rattan is one of the leading raw materials used in furniture and handicraft products. It is often combined with metals and wood to enhance its aesthetic appeal. Like any lignocellulosic materials, rattan furniture and handicrafts are prone to attacks of biodeterioration agents. Proper maintenance is key to using indigenous materials like rattan,” Cabangon added.
DOST-FPRDI has studied various methods to protect NTFPs against biodeterioration agents—from processing, storage, and transit. One method is applying wood preservatives to freshly cut and conditioned materials.
Another approach involves non-chemical control methods, such as kiln drying, to achieve low moisture content and ensure proper drying of raw materials.
The Institute is also researching ecofriendly ways to safeguard wood and NTFPs, one of which is thru thermal modification. According to DOST Scientist Juanito P. Jimenez, “Thermal modification uses high heat to change the kind of chemicals present in a piece of wood. This makes the material more durable as it becomes more stable (more weather-proof, less prone to swelling and shrinking) and less appetizing to termites.”
DOST-FPRDI recommends minimizing exposure of treated materials to prolonged wetting to extend their service life.
“We urge the public not to be discouraged in using furniture made from rattan and other NTFPs. It is a triumph of Filipino ingenuity that indigenous materials have been showcased for public use in NAIA. Through science, technology, and innovation, we can continue to take pleasure in bug-free Filipino craftsmanship,” ended Cabangon. (By Apple Jean C. Martin- de Leon & Sheryll C. Micosa, DOST-FPRDI)
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