Senator Cynthia Villar’s enthusiastic perspective on the potential of bamboo as a textile resource holds great promise for both the local industry and rural development. Her positive outlook was eloquently conveyed during the “KAWAYARN: A Bamboo Textile PH Launch” event, where she implored the DOST- Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) to assume a pivotal role in championing the use of bamboo within the textile sector. What she emphasized most was bamboo’s astounding textile fiber recovery rate, which stands at a robust minimum of 35 percent—sharply contrasting with the paltry 2 percent typically attained from other sources.
In her capacity as the chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture, Senator Villar underscored the prolific and resilient presence of bamboo across the entire country. She astutely pointed out that the technology required for bamboo processing is not only straightforward but also highly adaptable. Additionally, its potential for local production bodes well for a wider and more inclusive implementation strategy.
Another significant facet of Senator Villar’s address was her recognition of the DOST-PTRI Bamboo fiber extraction technology, which saw its inception in 2015. This technological innovation has made remarkable strides in enhancing the extraction of bamboo fiber, with the overarching goal of stimulating greater utilization of natural textile fiber sourced from bamboo. The dedicated facility is geared towards extracting bamboo fiber, which will subsequently be transformed into yarn, eventually culminating in the creation of textiles.
This cutting-edge technology extends its reach to encompass the natural extraction of various bamboo species found within the Philippines, including the likes of kawayan tinik, bolo, and yellow bamboo. Furthermore, PTRI has already established three Bamboo Textile Fiber (BTF) Innovation hubs in strategic locations such as Maragondon, Cavite; Naguilian, La Union; and Cauayan, Isabela. Equally noteworthy is the organization’s forward-looking plan to set up an additional trio of hubs by the year 2024, with one hub thoughtfully allocated to each of the regions of Abra, Bukidnon, and Pangasinan.
Senator Villar left no stone unturned when underscoring the remarkable versatility of bamboo fibers. These fibers can be harnessed for a multitude of purposes, spanning from the production of clothing and home textiles to their utilization in the creation of non-woven products like shoes and bags, opening up a world of possibilities for sustainable, locally-sourced materials.
