Production of silk and Philippine Tropical fabrics is underway. Processing of some of these fabrics will be done in cooperation with Manila Bay Spinning Mills, Inc., Weaver Textile Mills and Valenzuela Finishing center using Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) established indigenous textile technologies. La Herminia Piña Weaving Industry and PTRI will do other needed materials. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) provided grants-in-aid for the processing of silk and indigenous fibers. These textile materials will be supplied to several designers of the Fashion Designers council of the Philippines (FDCP) who agreed to create high-end garments to promote the fabrics developed by PTRI in support to the President's campaign for use of local materials to boost the local textile industry and generate employment in the countryside.

     It was Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's projection of the various outfits made of PTRI developed fabrics (published in Phil. Star, July 21, 2002) that caught the interest of the FDCP. This time, once again, in collaboration with the President's Image Consultant, Joanne Andrada, Manila's elite will wear the garments that will be created for a photo session and fashion show. The photos will be featured in the December issue of Mega Magazine, one of the country's top fashion magazines.

     In a related activity, PTRI with other concerned government and private sectors are drawing up the Implementing Guidelines for MC #20. this was the Memorandum Circular that Pres. Arroyo issued last May 2002, directing all government entities to use locally produced materials for their uniforms. Representatives of the textile and garments industry, orchestrated by the Bureau of Labor Employment and Job Corps are conducting regular consultation in preparation for a fashion parade of uniforms to be held sometime in January next year. (Malu A. Flores, PTRI Media Service)