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Development of
Natural Dye Industry in Aklan
The Natural
Dye Common Service Facility (CSF) for the extraction and
application of natural dyes was inaugurated last January 15,
2004 in Aklan State University (ASU), Banga, Aklan. Gracing
the occasion was the representative of the lone district of Aklan, Hon. Gabrielle V. Calizo, Aklan Mayor Steven Fuentes,
ASU President Dr. Benny A. Palma, DOST VI Regional Director
Engr. Zinnia P. Teruel.
 A project funded by the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST) under its Technology
Incubation and Commercialization Program (TECHNICOM), it
aims to determine the commercial viability of the natural
dye industry in the country. It was established to serve as
a common service facility for natural dyeing on
fiber/handicrafts and other textile-based materials and
products in the area, colormatching for color
specifications/ requirement, process/products development
improvement and marketing venue for dyed products.
This project
is a collaborative effort among DOST's Philippine Textile
Research Institute (PTRI), Aklan State University (ASU) and
Engr. Mario Lao of the Sto. Niño Natural Dyeing and Allied
Services in Banga, Aklan. Covered by a Memorandum of
Agreement, ASU will manage, maintain and monitor the
equipment/facilities of the CSF. It will lease the
facilities and equipment to the private sector in the person
of Engr. Mario Lao and manage the income from services that
accrue thereof. They will also conduct bio-prospecting
activities particularly in the identification and selection
of natural dye-yielding plants and put up nurseries for
selected plant sources for dyes in Aklan. The PTRI will
conduct training or technology transfer on the extraction
processes of the identified sources; train cooperators on
how to apply these dyes to textile-based or fiber-based
materials and products as well as provide formulations in
the conduct of the natural dye technologies for effective
and quality dyed products.
Engr. Mario
Lao will manage, operate and commercialize the services of
the CSF for a 3-year period.
 To ensure proper technology
transfer, he has hired a chemist who was trained by the PTRI
experts on natural dye technology at the PTRI laboratories
for one month. Lao will also promote, package and market
the services of the Common Service Facility. He will also
be responsible for data generation needed to establish the
viability of the CSF operation. Said data would be given to
both the PTRI and ASU for validation and further processing.
DOST's
Philippine Council for Industry and Energy Research and
Development (PCIERD) would monitor the project's activities
as well as identify other alternative courses of action to
address problems met, if any, during its implementation.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural
Resources and Development (PCARRD) will assist, coordinate
and monitor the raw material production phase of the project
which will include seedling production, plantation
establishment and harvesting of dye producing plants.
Other
support agencies for the project are the local offices of
the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Local
Government Units (LGUs). The project is very welcome in
Aklan particularly by the stakeholders and the local
government units' officials. According to Congresswoman
Gabrielle Calizo and Aklan Mayor Steven Fuentes, this
innovative and environment-friendly CSF would enhance their
vision for Aklan through the promotion of products that
would boost their economy and our country.
The project
could provide additional income for the farmers who
intensify propagation and cultivation of the identified dye
yielding plants by fully utilizing idle land in Aklan. In
addition to natural dyeing facility, ASU takes pride in
operating a biogas project that will sufficiently supply the
energy requirement for natural dyeing activities. Thus, the
project showcases two environment-friendly Filipino
technologies instrumental in the production of globally
competitive products.
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