The 3rd Philippine Handlooom Weaving Interagency Meeting, led by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), took place with the primary objective of ratifying revisions to the draft multi-agency Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at coordinating government efforts for the advancement of the Philippine handloom weaving sector. 

This initiative is in line with the objective of Senate Bill 241 and House Bill version 08478, advocating for the Development and Protection of the Philippine Handloom Weaving Industry, introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Loren B. Legarda, and Abra Lone District Representative Menchie B. Bernos, respectively. Both bills propose the establishment of the National Handloom Weaving Development Council, tasked with crafting the National Handloom Weaving Industry Development Policy, the National Handloom Weaving roadmap, the framework for safeguarding textile intellectual property rights, and programs for strengthening scientific and engineering advancements within the sector. 

The Meeting also coincides with the 2024 National Women’s Month Celebration. Traditionally, women weavers balance household duties and agricultural work and are the backbone of handloom weaving communities, passing down their expertise through generations. Each handloom-woven fabric embodies not just a craft but also a timeless tradition, representing diverse cultures and heritage. 

The Meeting was participated in by representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI Philippines), the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI).