Revitalizing PH textile industry, one weave at a time

The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) inaugurated the Philippine Handloom Weaving Center (PHWC) in the DOST compound in Bicutan early this week.

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The event was attended by numerous government officials, including DOST Secretary Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, and Senator Loren Legarda, who gave the keynote speech.

"The reason why we are all here in this hall today is because of our shared advocacy for tropical fabrics," Senator Legarda said in her keynote speech. "We are not only breathing life into our weaving industry, we also continue to provide a lifeline to our weavers and our farmers."

PTRI Director Julius L. Leaño Jr. outlined the Institute’s Fostering the Revitalization of Nascent Textile Innovation Ecosystems in the Region (FRONTIER) program. "We are in 100 percent of the 17 regions in the Philippines and 60 percent of the provinces in the last eight years," he said in his speech.

Natural Textile Fiber Engagement Hubs.

"We make sure that our natural resources are properly valorized and used for the textile industry," Dir. Leaño said, adding that this year, hubs are set to be set up in Catanduanes, Laguna, and Leyte. The hubs have been perfecting technologies to turn plentiful local plants such as water hyacinth and saluyot into fiber, with the creation of bamboo fiber perfected during the pandemic. Two new Bamboo Textile Fiber Hubs were just established in Pangasinan and Agusan del Norte just last month.

Regional yarn production and innovation centers.