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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Hon. Antonio B. Legarda Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE 
PHILIPPINE HANDLOOM WEAVING INDUSTRY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Handloom weaving is an important time honored tradition in the Philippines. 
More than just clothing, it is an artistic expression of beliefs and has symbolic 
meaning as it is often used for ceremonial purposes.  Today, handloom weaving has 
become the primary source of income for many indigenous communities.  At 
present, there are about 450 weaving groups across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, 
making up a population of roughly 5000, and producing a total revenue of about 
P150M.1 
However, the handloom weaving industry in the Philippines faces several 
problems such as climate change which affects the quality of raw materials, 
commercialization by big factories without credit to local artisans,  lack of resources 
to promote and enhance their products, and lack of government support. 
Fundamental changes must be made to address these issues and support our local 
handloom weaving industry. 
Thus, this bill seeks to establish the National Handloom Weaving Council 
that will provide technical support, education and training to local weavers, as well 
as  development and promotion of local textiles. This bill thereby serves a three-fold 
purpose: (1)  To empower our local weavers by giving them all the support to 
compete in the global market; (2) To protect our local artisans as their works will be 
protected by Intellectual Property laws; and (3) To ensure that the tradition of 
handloom weaving will continue for future generations to come.  
1 https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/weaving-revival-coronavirus-pandemic/ 
August 2, 2022
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In line with the policy adopted by its original proponent Senator Loren 
Legarda, this bill therefore likewise serves as a counter-part House Bill. It is for the 
reasons stated above that the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 
HON. ANTONIO B. LEGARDA JR. 


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session  
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
House Bill No. _________ 
Introduced by Hon. Antonio B. Legarda Jr. 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE 
PHILIPPINE HANDLOOM WEAVING INDUSTRY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section. 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Handloom 
Weaving Industry Development Act of 2022." 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to instill patriotism 
and nationalism among the people, especially in the education system, who shall at 
all times be loyal to the Republic and the Filipino people, promote the preferential 
use of locally manufactured goods that utilize local resources and technologies, 
celebrate the culture and heritage of the country through the adoption of measures 
to elevate its value and prestige and thus generate wider employment and inclusive 
greater growth for the country by preserving and nurturing handloom weaving 
activities thus in turn and nurtures the textile culture and heritage of our people. 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. – For purposes of this Act, the following terms are 
hereby defined as follows: 
a. Handloom – refers to a device used in weaving fabrics by holding the warp
threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads
b. Handloom-woven fabric – refers to fabric woven using a handloom
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c. Handloom weaving industry - composed of the interrelated and interconnected 
component supply chain realizing the production of textiles through the 
handloom 
d. Neo-ethnic Philippines textiles – refers to textiles made of or containing natural 
or indigenous materials, sourced and/or produced in the Philippines using 
updated, relevant, and green scientific and technological approaches and 
innovations; while integrating and/or retaining traditional patterns, 
designs, icons, motifs and/or approaches, and thus, contribute to livelihood 
generation and in sustaining the local handloom weaving and textile 
heritage 
Sec. 4. Establishment of the National Handloom Weaving Development Council. – 
The National Handloom Weaving Development Council shall be composed of the 
following: 
a. Head of the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of 
Science and Technology as Chair of the Council; 
b. Head of the Garments and Textile Industry Development Office of the 
Department of Trade and Industry as Co-Chair; 
c. Head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as Member; 
d. Head of the National Commission on Indigenous People as Member; 
e. Head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, 
Office of the President as Member; 
f. Head of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority of the 
Department of Agriculture as Member; and 
g. Representative of the handloom weaving industry association as 
Member. 
Sec. 5. The National Handloom Weaving Industry Development Policy. – The 
Council shall formulate one (1) year after it is created, the National Handloom 
Weaving Industry Development Policy. This shall include, but not limited to, the 
following: 
a. Formulation of the Handloom Weaving Industry Roadmap; 
b. Innovations in handloom design and engineering; 


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c. Technical support mechanism for sustainable handloom weaving 
activities; 
d. Development and promotion of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles; 
e. Development of Philippine Standards for Handloom Woven Textiles; 
f. Intellectual property protection framework for textiles; and 
g. Development of Textile-related Technical and Skills and Vocational 
h. Education and Training. 
The Council shall implement and monitor the measures to enable the Policy.  
       
Sec. 6. Appropriations. – The amount of Ten Million Pesos (Php 10,000,000.00) 
is hereby authorized to be appropriated from the National Treasury for the initial 
implementation of this Act. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for the 
implementation of this Act shall be appropriated as a distinct and separate item. 
       
 Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Director of the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the 
Department of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Garment and 
Textile Industry Development Office of the Department of Trade and Industry, the 
National Commission on Culture and the Arts, the Technical Education and Skills 
Development Authority, the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority of 
the Department of Agriculture, shall promulgate the implementing rules and 
regulations of this Act. 
Sec. 8. Separability Clause. – If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected 
shall remain valid and subsisting. 
Sec. 9. Repeating Clause. – Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or 
amended accordingly. 
Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
 
Approved,