DOST-PTRI urges support for Tropical Fabrics Law; cites P17.8B annual market

The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) urged government agencies to advance its full compliance with the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, as it can open a P17.8 billion market for locally-made and sourced uniforms.

Citing government data, DOST-PTRI said the annual Uniform or Clothing Allowance for public employees amounts to approximately P17.8 billion.

Around half of this is estimated to go directly to textile procurement, translating to a demand of roughly 30 million meters of fabric each year at an average cost of P300 per meter.

“Government uniform requirements can drive production across the entire value chain—from fiber cultivation to yarn production, weaving, and garment manufacturing,” DOST-PTRI director Julius Leaño said in a statement.

“Full compliance with the PTF Law can transform public procurement into a stable market for local producers," he added.

According to DOST-PTRI, the local fiber supply is sufficient to support increased production when properly integrated into the value chain.

It said cotton farms covering 12,600 hectares can produce about 2,270 metric tons of cotton, while other natural fibers contribute around 1,000 metric tons, forming a domestic raw material base capable of meeting the estimated annual PTF demand.

Republic Act 9242, or the Philippine Tropical Fiber Law, requires government uniforms to be composed of at least 5% natural fibers.

These natural fibers are from abaca, pineapple, banana, bamboo, cotton, and silk.

DOST-PTRI noted that PTF-based fabrics can reduce carbon emissions compared with conventional polyester materials.

Telang Pinoy

Currently, DOST-PTRI coordinates with the Civil Service Commission for compliance enforcement, the Department of Trade and Industry for expanding market opportunities for local manufacturers, and the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority for support in fiber cultivation.

DOST-PTRI continues to advance its “Telang Pinoy” advocacy—its campaign label for government and public adoption of locally made Philippine tropical fabrics—as a platform for sustained demand across the domestic textile value chain.

One Philippine clothing company is using pineapple fibers to manufacture camouflage uniforms for the Philippines' armed services.

Charmagne Diaz, founder and CEO of CKDiaz Worldwide Enterprise, told GMA News Online that the production of the uniforms not only minimizes agricultural waste but also provides farmers with additional income.

Showcasing uniforms that comprise seven percent of pineapple or pina fibers, Diaz shared these are the first camouflage military uniforms with this feature.

She believes local manufacturers should be given a chance to prove the quality of their products.

According to DOST-PTRI, the country exported 582,536 tons of pineapple fibers in 2022.

In 2023, over 2.9 million metric tons of pineapple fibers were produced in the country.
—Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA News