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PTRI
Celebrated
its
35th
Anniversary
The 35th
anniversary of the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI)
was celebrated on January 30, 2002 with the theme "Hiblang
Pinoy… Paghabi ng Bagong Pag-asa." The theme embodied the Institute's
vision and strategy to move the Philippine textile industry
forward with the use of natural fibers such as abaca,
pineapple and banana.
 After
a thanksgiving mass, the guests were welcomed by PTRI
Director Carlos C. Tomboc.
A mini fashion show presented recent developments on
Philippine Tropical Fabrics.
The DOST Secretary, Estrella F. Alabastro, gave the
inspirational message while the Hon. Krisel Lagman-Luistro,
Congresswoman of the 1st District of Albay, gave
the keynote address.
The maiden issue of the PTRI bulletin entitled "SAMAY" was
also launched.
Thereafter, Presidential Assistant Leticia Ramos-Shahani and
DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro, assisted by Ms. Myrna
Tomboc, inaugurated the PTRI Showroom and display area.
To make the Institute more focused and responsive to its
mandate, the PTRI recently realigned its major activities
into four (4) flagship programs - Silk Production, Natural
Fabrics , Natural Dyes and Technical Services.
The two (2) sericulture stations in Benguet and
Misamis Oriental were transformed into Technology Centers to
promote and implement activities that would lead to a more
efficient and effective packaging and transfer of mature and
related technologies developed by PTRI.
The PTRI has established technologies for the conversion of
fibers from indigenous raw materials, such as abaca, banana
and piña into textiles for the production of garments and
house linens. 
The prototype fabrics presented to the fashion world
as Philippine tropical fabrics during the 1st
Manila FAME International Market Week in1997 in coordination
with the Garments and Textile Export Board (GTEB) and Center
for International Trade and Exposition Mission (CITEM)
yielded highly promising results. Subsequently, Cong. W. Tañada and Sen. Loren Legarda drafted
a bill prescribing the use of Philippine Tropical Fabric as
official uniform of government officials and employees.
This year, Congresswoman Krisel Luistro refiled the
bill in the Lower House and is again being sponsored by Sen.
Leviste in the Senate.
Should this bill be enacted into law, the 1.3M
government employees would be a captive market that would
definitely infuse fresh opportunities for the local textile
industry.
Aside from these apparel fabrics, the Institute has
successfully established the commercial production of
handwoven abaca fabric using the pinukpok process for
garments, fashion accessories and house linens.
The Institute has also developed processes for the
extraction of black dye from talisay leaves, red dye from
achuete seed, brown dye from buko husk and yellow
dye from narra wood shavings.
To date PTRI has established 35 indigenous dye
sources ready
for textile application, the latest of which is blue dye
from malatayum plants.
The successful field-testing of the PTRI-bred silkworm eggs
varieties in the different regions of the country showed
that the silkworms can adapt to the varied Philippine
conditions.
Silkworm Eggs Multiplication Centers in Misamis Oriental and
Benguet are engaged in commercial eggs production
and can supply 25,000 boxes of disease-free silkworm
eggs (20,000 eggs/box) per year to sustain about 500
hectares of mulberry farm.
Memoranda of Agreement in the conduct of sericulture
had been signed with several farmer-entrepreneurs, many of
which are based in Mindanao.
This led to a significant increase in fresh cocoon
production from 2.6 metric ton to 6.9 metric ton in 2001.
In support to the government program of alleviating poverty
in the countryside, PTRI contributed actively to the DOST's
flagship program on "S & T Intervention for the Poor,
Vulnerable and Disabled" by entering into Memorandum of
Agreement with the National Vocational Rehabilitation
Center, by providing handloom machines and trainings suited
for persons with disabilities.
PTRI technologies on handloom weaving, dyeing and
silkscreen printing were provided to the rural and urban
populace.
Three (3) dyeing centers
(Inabanga and Tubigon, Bohol; Bagong Silang, Caloocan City);
five (5) weaving centers (Northern Samar; Aglipay, Quirino;
Sinai, Agusan del Sur; Hinugusan, Romblon; and DAWN, San
Andres, Manila) and one (1) printing center (Bagong Silang,
Caloocan City) were established with PTRI's intervention.
These centers are now providing gainful livelihood
opportunities to out-of-school youths, housewives and rural
and urban folks.
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