Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17" Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4883

Introduced by: HON. JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO-

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to provide for the development and protection of the Philippine Handloom
Weaving Industry as it is now on the decline and its very existence is threatened by the influx of
cheap imported textile products.

Handloom weaving is an art practiced in the Philippines over generations. It is one of the
leading handicraft industries in the Philippines and considered as a traditional cratt in a number
of regions in the country. Up until the last century, it was a household activity to meet family
needs and was not organized as a commercial industry. Over time, villages in the various regions
developed their own traditions surrounding their craft. The different colors, techniques and
symbolism represented their heritage and way of life.

The legacy of hand woven textiles emanated from the Philippine ancestral tribes as part
of their culture and family history handed down from generation to generation, While it is an
ancient tradition, its intent as a livelihood activity has waned among the new generation because
its specialized and time-consuming techniques that cannot meet the demands of commercial
production

It has great potential as an industry because it is labor intensive and utilizes indigenous
materials such as abaca, raffia, pineapple, buri and other plants used as source for fabrics
gions and ethnic groups use their own kind of loom that is utilized in their woven
produets, They take pride is using materials that are famously associated with their land

In the carly 20" century, handloom weaving became a thriving industry, but was
paralyzed by the Second World War. After the war, the decline of the cotton industry and the
flood of cheap imported textiles severely damaged the handloom weaving industry. Today, there
isa renewed effort to recognize and value this ancient craft not only for its commercial value but
more importantly for its cultural value as it is part of the very rich Filipino culturaPhieritage that
must be preserved and protected. a

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earn

JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
4882

Introduced by Hon. Jose Antonio R. Sy-Alvarado

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.”

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) Handioom is a device used in weaving fabrics by
holdingthe warp threads under tension to facilitate the interweaving of
the weft threads.

(B) Handioom-woven fabric is woven using a handloom.

(C) Handloom weaving industryis composed of the the interrelated and
interconnected component supply chain realizing the production of
textiles through the handloom.

(D) Neo-ethnic Philippines textiles are made of or contain natural or
indigenous materials, sourced and/or produced in the Philippines

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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)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 it is created, the National Handloom
Weaving Industry Development Policy. This shall include but not limited to:

(A) Formulation of the Handloom Weaving Industry Roadmap.

(B) Innovations on 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 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 fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00) 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 Authorityof 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.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
publication in at

use.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
‘st two (2) newspapers of general circulation.