Legarda pushes measures to strengthen local fiber industry

Sen. Loren Legarda has urged the Department of Agriculture to undertake measures to strengthen the market for fiber crops so that land area devoted to its cultivation can be expanded.

“I believe that the tropical fabric industry in the entire ASEAN region has great potential in the world market. However, between where we are now and where we want to be in the world market, is a long way to go. A lot of work needs to be done,” Legarda, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture said.

Legarda reported that the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), an agency of the Department of Science and Technology, is already implementing R & D programs in natural fabrics, natural dyes, and the silk industry to blend with natural fabrics such as abaca, banana, pineapple and silk. “This program should be strengthened,” she said.

“In consultation and meeting that I conducted with stakeholders of this industry, I came to know that there is a gap between the buyers and the producers — there is a need to improve the market to bring these two players together,” the senator said.

She said the loom-weavers and the artists who labor on crafting our tropical fabrics such as Barong Tagalog and Philippine ternos had lamented the lack of capital and equipment.

“Most of them reside in rural areas; they have small means in acquiring looms that will help them meet the demand of their customers. And how will they be able to retain customers if they cannot meet these demands,” Legarda said.

She said government financial institutions should help them avail of credit and as much as possible at a reasonable interest rate.

“We should therefore promote foreign investments and linkages in the industry to achieve scale economies, establish a reliable supply of materials and adopt modern high technology machinery for greater productivity. And the important part — we should ensure that the textile producers benefit directly from these,” Legarda, who also chairs the Congressional oversight committee on agricultural and fisheries modernization said.