DOST-PTRI Spearheads Celebration of Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month 2019
 
Strengthening its TELA (Textiles Empowering Lives Anew) Advocacy, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST – PTRI) spearheaded another Textile Stakeholders’ Conference in line with the celebration of the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month this 2019.
 
With DOST – PTRI as the lead agency, they have been actively continuing to do engaging activities that will help boost the local textile industry through various programs and conferences.
 

 
With this year’s theme highlighting TELA: Gawang Pilipinas. Galing Pilipinas, the Textile Stakeholders Conference centered on the subject “A TELA Story, Philippine Tropical Fabrics: Rising to the Challenge”, and featured two parts:
 

 
First: The TELA Conference bringing together the textile stakeholders and advocates from various sectors of the government, academe, private institutions, and social enterprises. It focused on Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF), its production, utilization, and the challenges they encountered after the implementation of R.A. 9242; and
 
Second: A Runway Presentation, as the culminating activity of the Uniform Design and Prototyping Project using PTF and indigenous weaves, featured the prototypes produced by premier designers, namely Albert Andrada, JC Buendia, Patrice Ramos Diaz, PJ Arañador, and Rajo Laurel, who have strongly expressed their interests in using local and natural textiles. Each of them created three (3) sets of uniforms, for both male and female government employees. These uniforms were specially designed for the six participating government agencies: Civil Service Commission (CSC), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
 
Overall, there were over a hundred uniform designs and prototypes showcased during the Project Presentation and modelled by government officials and personnel from the six participating government agencies.
 

 
Together with the help of all the stakeholders –-from natural textile fiber suppliers to the DOST – PTRI processing units and the ICYT, designers, sewers, to government agencies, and procurement systems–- the DOST-PTRI believes that it  will rise to all the challenges to encourage and boost the production of Philippines Tropical Fabrics.