Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘Thirteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. ___

Introduced by HONORABLE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Handloom weaving is an ancestral practice which existed for
centuries and has continued to gain popularity.

Weaving was originally used, with the aid of a loom to make
cloth. And it has since been applied to the making of matting and
braids. Special looms were also designed for tapestry weaving,
‘and end products of which are very expensive items.

With patience and skill, exquisite fabrics could be spun and
‘woven through handioom equipment, using natural fibers. With the
availability of threads and yams from synthetic fibers, looms have
also been used with synthetic fiber materials, with remarkable
success.

Because handloom weaving has very great economic
potential which has been tested for countless years, its promotion
{as a livelihood project for our rural folk must perforce receive
continuing goverment encouragement.

Hand loomed products have also become works of art to the
extent that they reflect traditional cultural patterns and native
ingenuity. Some outputs of hand loomed artistry have even
become collectors’ items.


In many parts of the country, handioom weaving is very
prevalent, although they remain crude. With proper government
assistance through the establishment of handioom weaving
training centers, the art and trade of handioom weaving could be
made more efficient through the introduction of new methods and
techniques. Our country could also leam from the practices of
‘other countries in the Asia-Pacific Region and from Europe. In
North America, the art of handloom weaving reportedly being
revived.

The market of hand loomed products continues to expand
and grow as interest is renewed on indigenous patterns as well as
‘more modem ones.

‘As an economic undertaking and art medium, handloom
weaving could spread. Productivity could however be improved
only through sustained training programs, where more efficient and
practical methods in the use of materials, designs and weaving
techniques are applied. While we may have evolved our own
native approaches to weaving, we certainly could upgrade our
skills from studying the experiences of other countries and this
could be done if we establish appropriate training centers in
various parts of the country, where weaving is already part of the
inherent inclinations of people as evidenced by the existence of
weaving as a business and trade.

This bill seeks therefore to create, with national government
assistance, a Handioom Weaving Training Center in the
‘Municipality of Canaman, Province of Camarines Sur.

Early approval of this bill, which hopes to stimulate livelihood
activities as an element of our economic recovery program, is most
eamestly urged.

Luis R|VILLAFUERTE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
‘Quezon City

‘Thirteenth Congress
First Regular Session

3235
HOUSE BILL NO. ___

Introduced by HONORABLE LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE,

AN ACT
TO ESTABLISH A HANDLOOM WEAVING TRAINING
CENTER FOR NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC FIBERS IN THE
MUNICIPALITY OF CANAMAN, PROVINCE OF CAMARINES
SUR, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES.

‘Bel enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There shall be established in the Municipality of
Canaman, Province of Camarines Sur, a Handloom Weaving
Training Center. °

SECTION 2. The Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) in consuttation with the Philippine
Textile Research Institute, is hereby authorized to construct the
facilities of the Center, to acquire and install the necessary
equipments or paraphemalia and to take such steps as may be
necessary to implement the intents and purposes of this Act.

‘The weaving capability of the Center shall be upgraded from
time to time to enable the trainees to avail of the emerging new
techniques and methods for weaving through handlooms, and if
warranted by the shifting demands in the marketplace, to avail of


the small and medium scale semi-automatic weaving machinery
appropriate thereto.

SECTION 3. The amount of Two Million Pesos
(P2,000,000.00) is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the
implementation of this Act, chargeable to the annual appropriations
‘of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), or from such other funds as this Authority could provide
form other sources available to it. Thereafter, such sums as may
be necessary for the operation, upkeep and maintenance of the
Handloom Weaving Training Center shall be included in the annual
General Appropriations Act as part of the budget of the Technical
Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Counterpart funding may also be sought from the Provincial
Govemment of Camarines Sur under such memorandum
agreement as may be entered into in connection with the operation
and management of the Handloom Weaving Training Center.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take immediate effect upon its
approval.

APPROVED,