Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.0636

introduced b\
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

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
USS 2.14B in exports in 2012. 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 Handioom Weaving Industry Development Act seeks to revive the trade
and empower weavers to be able to rise above the competitive 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 is guaranteed concrete and long-term economic

benefits for the weavers and their families. This bill seeks to:

4. Promote local trade, celebrate Filipino culture, and give weavers economic and
financial viability;

2. Establish a National Handioom 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, 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.

4. Appropriate ten million pesos (Php10,000,000.00) 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.

_—TORENTES |ARDA


Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 0636

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE LOREN B. LEGARDA

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 Handioom
Weaving Industry Development Act of 2019."

Sec 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to instill patriotism
and nationalism among the people, especially in 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.

(A) Handloom is a device used in weaving fabrics by holding the warp threads

under tension to facilitate the interweaving of the weft threads;

(8) Handloom-woven fabric is woven using a handloom;


oe

12

13

14

15

16

7

18

19

20

2

22

23

24

25

26

27

(C) Handloom weaving industry is composed of the interrelated and
interconnected component supply chain realizing the production of textiles
through the handloom; and,

(D) Neo-ethnic Philippines textiles are made of or contain 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 itis created, the National Handloom Weaving

Industry Development Policy. This shall include, but not limited to, the following:


13

14

15

16

7

18

19

20

2a

22

23

24

25

26

27

(A) Formulation of the Handloom Weaving Industry Roadmap;

(B) Innovations on handloom design and engineering;

(C) Technical support mechanism for sustainable handioom 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

Education and Training.

The Council shall implement and monitor the measures to enable the Policy.

Sec. 6. Appropriations. - The amount of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) 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.


it Sec. 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
2 publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

3 Approved