By EDD K. USMAN
Twitter: @edd1819, Instagram: @bluestar0910, Facebook: SDN — Science, Digital & Current News
(SDN) — LOCAL textile manufacturers, including weavers by hand, have received a much-needed shot in the arm.
The “injection” comes in the form of the Philippines’ first natural dyes hub, which the Department of Science and Technology through its Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) inaugurated and opened recently to the public on December 6.
It’s named the Natural Dyes Processing and Dyeing Facility (NDPDF) housed in the Natural Craft Connection Enterprise (NCCE) in PurokKamagong, Brgy. (Village) Inicbulan, Bauan, Batangas.
PTRI headed by Director Celia B.Elumba said the facility will produce and sell natural dyestuff and cater to the dyeing service requirements of the textile and allied industries such as handicrafts as it aims to spur growth of the Philippine natural dyes industry.
PTRI established the facility following clamor for natural dyes harnessed from the country’s rich diversity of plants.
Guests at the inauguration included DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Brenda L. Nazareth-Manzano, Elumba, DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Deputy Executive Director Raul C. Sabularse, DOST-CALABARZON (Region IV-A) Regional Director Alexander R. Madrigal, Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC)- Batangas Provincial Director Felina C. Malabanan, Batangas Governor Executive Secretary Emma Pasatiempo, and NCCE Proprietor Pedro M. Polo Jr. Partner-collaborators and stakeholders from the government, academe, private institutions, enterprises, and friends from the media also joined the event.
“Natural dyes have been deeply rooted in the culture and tradition of the country. But because of the increasing demand and technology development, others resorted to synthetic dyes,” Elumba pointed out. “This establishment of the hub is an effort to promote the use of natural dyes.”
The PTRI director lauded the collective efforts and commitment which is well known that the primary researcher, supplier, and stakeholders are all needed to make this project a success.
Nazareth-Manzano and Madrigal called on those concerned to harness today’s technologies and use them to innovate the use of natural dyes in digital printing, food processing, and intelligent fiber for modern fabrics as dye indicator.
Elumba said the natural dyes facility came about through the collaboration of DOST-PTRI (project implementer), NCCE (private partner), and DOST-PCIEERD (funding agency). The NCCE is also a DOST-CALABARZON’s Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) beneficiary.
Just last November, the PTRI inaugurated the Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) in Miagao, Iloilo.
The RYPIC is a realization of the institute’s TELA Pilipinas advocacy, or the Textiles Empowering Lives Anew.
It’s a project under the DOST Inclusive Innovation TELA or i2TELA Program.
Elumba said the RYPIC “is the first micro-scale yarn spinning facility which aims to produce crafted yarns from blends of natural textile fibers, abaca, banana, and pineapple leaf in combination with cotton at a 50 kilograms of yarns per day capacity.”
She added that RYPIC’s objective is to jump-start local ecosystems for the textile sector and will cater to the requirements of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) belonging to the fashion industry, academe and government institutions for yarns and fabrics using local raw materials, skills, and talents. (SDN/PTRI)
To be updated.