Legarda pushes for strengthened local textile industry, files bill on handloom weaving development

Deputy Speaker and Antique Lone District Representative Loren Legarda today called for strengthened support for the local textile industry in order to provide stable income in the country’s textile communities.

A well-known advocate of the local textile industry, Legarda has filed House Bill 636, or an Act Providing for the Development and Protection of the Philippine Handloom Weaving Industry.

As then Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, apart from providing support for the establishment of the cotton processing centers in Patnongon, Antique, Pinili, Ilocos Norte, and Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, Legarda also supported the funding for the establishment of weaving and processing centers in other areas in the country, namely in Kiangan, Ifugao; Tibiao, Pandan and Bugasong, Antique; Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur; Miag-ao, Iloilo and Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, in partnership with the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFida). She has also provided funds for cotton production, having established farms in Pinili, Ilocos Norte, San Fabian Pangasinan, Iloilo (Miag-ao, Tigbauan, Alimodan), Patnongon, Antique, Bayawan, Negros Occidental, Dumingag, Zamboanga del Sur, and Alabel, South Cotabato.

“Support has to be sustained at the grassroots. From production up to supply, we have to make sure that the needs of our local weaving communities are met. The proposed bill seeks to revive and make sure that the roadmap is established that will synergize the optimization of resources for the sustenance of our weaving industry,” Legarda said.