NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
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^ -^Sifne of tl)C (liii'j>
72. JUL11 P3:48
SENATE
s.No. 241
RECEIVED BY.
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OE 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.
1 https://texUleworldasia.com/textilc-world-asia/countiy-profiles/2013/03/the-philippines-textiIe-and-apparel- 
industty-on-the-mend/


The Philippine Handloom 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 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 viabihty;
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 Ctdture 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; 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.
LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
ot tl)c gi'T'
•22 JUL11 P3^8
SENATE 
S. No.
RtCEIV-J BY__
Introduced by Senator 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:
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Section. 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Handloom 
Weaving Industry Development Act of2022."
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. 77ie 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;


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