DTI Validates Philippine Fashion and Textile Roadmap

By means of Francis Allan L. Angelo

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has taken a major step forward in shaping the future of the Philippine fashion and textile industry by holding a validation session for its draft roadmap.

On April 16, 2024, at the Valero Grand Suites in Makati City, the Bureau of Industry Planning and Innovation (BIPI) held this crucial meeting as part of the Creative CHATS (Collaborative Huddles and Townhall Sessions) series.

The session brought together industry champions and experts to critique and improve the roadmap developed based on extensive research. This initiative aims to map the past performance, current status and future directions of these industries while addressing challenges to progress.

The roadmap outlines DREAM strategic pillars aimed at empowering artisans and designers, investing in raw materials, establishing supportive policies and infrastructure, promoting archiving and documentation, and driving market growth and expansion.

Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, of DTI’s Competitiveness and Innovation Group, underscored the challenges and opportunities posed by global trade dynamics and how these factors are pushing local industries toward innovation and greater competitiveness on the global stage.

She emphasized the Philippine government’s commitment to increasing industry competitiveness and strengthening the supply chain with sustainable practices.

Usec. Aldaba expressed optimism about the sector’s growth: “The prospects for growth and development in the Philippines are promising due to our diverse cultural heritage, skilled workforce and support from government initiatives that help local designers and develop sustainable practices,” she added. .

The validation session saw contributions from a diverse group of stakeholders, including intellectual property officials, United Nations representatives, members of the Philippine Fashion Coalition, and various government and private sector experts.

Participants from various sectors actively provided insights during the open forum, underscoring the importance of improving raw material sourcing, capacity building for creatives, heritage documentation, market expansion, infrastructure investments and developing business-friendly policies.

Expressing his appreciation for the invaluable expertise shared, DTI-BIPI Director Lilian Salonga said: “During our sessions today, it has become abundantly clear that the challenges facing the Philippine fashion and textile industry are multi-faceted and complex. But just as clear is the enormous potential that exists within these sectors.”

This roadmap is part of the DTI’s Malikhaing Pinoy Program and supports evidence-based policymaking and industry-driven development as provided in the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act of Republic Act No. 11904.

For more information, stakeholders are encouraged to follow the DTI Competitiveness and Innovation Group and the DTI Bureau of Industry Planning and Innovation on their Facebook pages.