Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Hon. Christopher “Toff” V.P. de Venecia 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE 
PHILIPPINE HANDLOOM WEAVING INDUSTRY 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Textiles and garments remain to be the third commodity cluster responsible 
for the US$2.14B in exports in 2012.1 In this sector, handloom weaving is one of the 
most time-honored cottage industries in the Philippines and a resource for rural 
employment and income. The industry has a considerable role in rural development 
as well as a great source of cultural pride and national identity. 
However, the industry faces some inherent problems, including globalization, 
the high price of raw materials, marketing issues, unfair competition, minimal 
product diversification, disorganized artisan agencies, and the lack of government 
support. 
Economic challenges and frayed mainstream market enthusiasm have tucked 
the handloom weaving industry to the shelves of vanishing Filipino traditions and 
perhaps to the brink of extinction. 
The Philippine Handloom Weaving Industry Development Act seeks to 
revive the trade and empower weavers to be able to rise above the competitive 
1 https://textileworldasia.com/textile-world-asia/country-profiles/2013/03/the-philippines-textile-and-apparel-
industry-on-the-mend/ 
August 30, 2022
11:22 am
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global market and be able to grow their businesses in a self-reliant matter. These 
goals can be realized by creating a framework and roadmap that will synergize the 
various schemes and programs of other departments and agencies to optimize 
resource utilizations that aid the livelihood of the handloom weaving industry. This 
will give the weavers, artisans that safeguard the nation's cultural heritage, a better 
quality of life. 
 
This measure aims to preserve and further develop this century-old tradition. 
This industry can only flourish when there are guaranteed concrete and long-term 
economic benefits for the weavers and their families. This bill seeks to: 
1. Promote local trade, celebrate Filipino culture, and give weavers economic 
and financial viability; 
2. Establish a National Handloom Weaving Department Council composed of 
representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous People, 
Technical 
Education 
and 
Skills 
Development 
Authority, 
National 
Commission for Culture and the Arts, Philippine Creative Industry 
Development Council, and Garments and Textile Industry Development 
Office of the Department of Trade and Industry. The representative from the 
Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and 
Technology will serve as Chair of the Council; 
3. The Council will create the National Handloom Weaving Industry 
Development Policy which will generate a roadmap for the industry, boost 
innovations, lend technical support, give intellectual property security, and 
promote neo-ethnic Philippine textiles; and 
4. Appropriate Ten Million Pesos (Php 10,000,000.00) from the National 
Treasury to fund the endeavor of the Council. 
 
In the present economic climate in which businesses depend on foreign 
capital and know-how, the handloom industry presents a sustainable model of 
economic activity that is not dependent on energy, has low capital costs, and 
celebrates the extensive skill base of Filipino artistry. 
 


For these reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. CHRISTOPHER “TOFF” V.P. VENECIA 


1 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ______ 
Introduced by Representative Hon. Christopher “Toff” V.P. de Venecia 
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;  
g. Head of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Council; 
h. The Representative of the Traditional and Cultural Expressions 
Domain of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council as 
Member;  
i. Head of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines as Member; 
and 
j. A representative of an accredited handloom weaving industry 
association as Member. 


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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; 
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;  
g. Development of a database of Philippine textiles; 
h. Development of Textile-related Technical and Skills and Vocational 
Programs; and 
i. 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, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines,  


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and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council 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. Repealing 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 a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,