Region 2 HEIs help boost textile fiber industry

HIGHER educational institutions (HEIs), government agencies and local government units (LGU) have forged an agreement to establish a textile fiber industry hub in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

To do this, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DoST-PTRI) together with DoST-Region 2, DoST-CAR, Isabela State University, Apayao State College, Ilagan City (Isabela) LGU and Luna (Apayao) LGU signed memorandum of agreements (MoAs) for the project titled DOST-PTRI Inclusive Innovation (I2) TELA (Textile Empowering Lives Anew) Program.

Celia Elumba, DoST-PTRI director, said the project partnerships will strategically establish a Bamboo and other Natural Textile Fiber (NTF) Innovation Hub in Isabela and Apayao provinces.

Elumba said the textile fiber hub is capable of processing in its full capacity of 10 to 40 kilograms of fibers daily which is equivalent to about 60 kilograms of spinnable or opened fibers ready for yarn and other textile material conversion.

She said the innovation hubs will also provide the pre-treated fiber requirements of the Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) in Isabela, promote the NTF supply chain, and catalyze an integrated local textile ecosystem.

The MoA signing on March 25 was attended by DoST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, DoST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Engr. Sancho Mabborang and Elumba,

Elumba noted that the I2 TELA program has two complementary projects which are the Integrated Community-scale Textile Fiber Innovation Hubs in Northern Luzon and the Establishment of Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center-Northern Luzon.

Source: TheManila Times