Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Nv,_983

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, Ilocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is a country with a rich and diverse culture, as
reflected in its varied handloom weaving traditions that have existed since
time immemorial. The handloom, has since then, became an integral part of
the country’s history and heritage.

The handloom weaving industry in the Philippines is a promising
sector with the potential to be a lucrative industry while also functioning as a
soft power that promotes national identity and expression. The industry has
undergone significant effects from industrialization, mass production, and
digitalization, making it essential to undertake revitalization efforts."

This measure aims to promote and protect the handloom weaving
industry in the country by establishing the National Handloom Weaving
Development Council. The council will be responsible for developing a
roadmap and database for the industry, providing training and intellectual
property protection, and promoting and developing the handloom industry.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

ANGEL! .COS BARBA

‘Abola, K, etal.
Couneil of the

f

2020). Crafting Futures: Sustaining handloom weaving in the Philippines. British



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill Nd. 983

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA.
2™ District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OF
THE PHILIPPINE HANDLOOM WEAVING INDUSTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Philippine
Handloom Weaving Industry Development Act of 2025.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of State 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.

SECTION 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;

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

(@) Neo-ethnic Philippine 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.

SECTION 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 (PTRI) of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) as Chair of the Council;

(b) Head of the Garments and Textile Industry Development Office
(GTIDO) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTT) as Co-Chair;

(©) Head of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
as Member;

(d) Head of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)

as Member;


(e) Head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA), Office of the President, as Member;

() Head of the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority
(PhilFIDA) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Member;

(g) Head of the Philippine Creative Industry Development Council
(PcIDQ);

(h) The Representative of the Traditional and Cultural Expressions
Domain of the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council
(PCIDC) as Member;

(i) Head of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines
(IPOPHL) as Member;

@ A representative of an accredited handloom weaving industry
association as Member;

(k) Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Culture and the Arts as
Member;

() Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology

as Member;

(m) Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and
Entrepreneurship as Member;

(n) Chairperson of the House Committee on Science and Technology
as Member;

(0) Chairperson of the House Committee on Trade and Industry as
Member;


(p) Chairperson of the House Special Committee on Creative Industry
and Performing Arts as Member.

SECTION 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;

(@) Development and promotion of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles;

() Development of Philippine Standards for Handloom Woven
Textiles;

(f Intellectual property protection framework for textiles;

(g) Development of a database of Philippine textile;

(h) Development of a 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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 (DOST), in
coordination with the Garment and Textile Industry Development Office of
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the National Commission on
Culture and the Arts (NCA), the Technical Education and Skills Development
Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority
(PhilFIDA) of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Intellectual Property
Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), and the Philippine Creative Industries
Development Council shall promulgate implementing rules and regulations of
this Act.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen
(a5) days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the

Philippines.

Approved,