Stakeholders of the Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) gathered at the East Asia Royale Hotel in General Santos City, on March 28, 2025, to discuss the future of the textile innovation ecosystem in Region XII.

One agenda of the dialogue was the Bamboo Textile Fiber Innovation Hub, set to launch in Pangasinan State University - Lingayen, on May 27, 2025. The hub will serve as a center for research and development,which will help in boosting bamboo-based textile in the province. The dialogue also discussed the Anda Lingawen project, which aims to establish a community weaving center in Mapita, Aguilar, Pangasinan. This project is designed to support local weavers by providing them resources to keep their traditional weaving practices alive.  

Additionally, DOST-PTRI presented their handloom weaving technologies, as well as the Textile Academy, where student internships, training, and joint research projects are offered, with the goal of strengthening textile education. 

To conclude the event, both parties agreed to formalize their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which will focus on research and community engagement projects. A separate Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will also be drafted for the Mapita community in Pangasinan, where two handlooms will be dispatched as part of ongoing efforts to improve local textile production.

Through these initiatives, DOST-PTRI and PSU aim to promote sustainable textile production, provide valuable opportunities for students, and uplift the livelihoods of local communities in Pangasinan.