Government, private sector to develop handmade paper industry

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Expect the local handmade industry to attain its full potentials in the immediate future.

The reason: 20 government and private entities have joined hands to work for the development of this export winner.

Of the 20, seven are research and development institutes and councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). These are the Los Banoz-based Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI, the coalition’s lead agency), Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development Council (PCARRD), also in Los Baños), Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and Development (PCIERD), Phillippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), Technology Application and Promotion Institute (TAPI), Metals and Industry Research and Development Center (MIRDC), and Philippine Trade and Training Center (PTTC).

Two are under the Office of the President: Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC).

Also involved are the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and six of its agencies, namely Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP), Bureau of Export Trade Promotion (BETP), Bureau of Products Standards (BPS), Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP), and Cottage Industry Training Center (CITC).

Other government agencies involved are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB) and Department of Agriculture-Fiber Industry Development Authority (DA-FIDA).

The private groups are the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. and Federation of Handmade Papermakers and Converters.

Dr. Florentino O. Tesoro, FPRDI director, noted that the demand for handmade paper products has steadily increased over the years, especially in the export market.

From a simple sheet of handmade paper and a few accents, artistic entrepreneurs can create eye-catching cards, stationeries, fans, dolls, Christmas decors or just about any novelty item possible.

Because of its simplicity and minimal capital requirement, handmade paper making has become a profitable venture for hobbyists, craftsmen, housewives, and out-of-school youth across the country.

"The Philippines can definitely grab a piece of the action in international trade because we have advantage of a creative and dynamic manpower, a wide variety of fiber materials, and simple and clean production technologies," Tesoro said.