SINCE 2012, every January is celebrated as Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Month with the aim of promoting textile production using natural textile fibers, technologies, and industries in the Philippines. This is done in order to revitalize the local textile industry, provide inclusive growth through the generation of livelihood for Filipinos and to provide materials that nurture and promote a truly Filipino textile brand. PTF contain natural textile fibers from pineapple leaf, abaca, banana, and Philippine silk, which are produced, spun, woven, or knitted, and finished in the Philippines.
With the theme “Pushing Boundaries for Sustainable, Competitive, and Inclusive Philippine Textile-Garment Industry,” this month’s activities include the launching of the Bamboo Textile Fiber Innovation Hub (BTFIH) in La Union on Jan. 13 and the Silk Innovation Hub in Negros Occidental on Jan. 18; the Philippine Textile Industry Stakeholders’ Conference on Jan. 26; the 4th Philippine Silk Summit on Jan. 27; and the opening of the “Philippine Tropical Fabrics Exhibition” in the Batasan in Quezon City on Jan. 31.
Leading the celebration annually is the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI). Public officials and employees are also directly involved in the promotion of PTFs as their uniforms — as per Republic Act 9242 — must use fabrics containing at least 5% by weight of either abaca leaf sheath, banana pseudostem, and pineapple leaf, or 15% by weight of silk.
For more information on the events, visit ptri.dost.gov.ph or e-mail ptri.tips@ptri.dost.gov.ph.