Since 2004, the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), the national lead agency under the Department of Science & Technology (DOST) tasked to undertake research and development work for textiles and allied industries, has been celebrating Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Month every January of every year in accordance with R.A. 9242.
Over the course of the last two years, PTRI has actively engaged our local stakeholders through our TELA (Textiles Empowering Lives Anew) Serye conference, the round-table discussion TELA Talks, and the learning modules under TELA Matters. TELA Nation is the PTRI’s 2016 Stakeholder Conference woven around the theme ONE ASEAN: Beyond Borders, Beyond Boundaries, Beyond Bounds to celebrate the foundation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
TELA Nation will be held on January 28, 2016, a Thursday, at the DOST Executive Lounge, DOST Central Office, General Santos Avenue, Bicutan, Taguig City, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Highlights of the conference include the presence of the DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo, and Keynote speech to be delivered by DTI Undersecretary for Industry Development Group, Ceferino Rodolfo.
Ms. Anya Lim of Anthill, will speak about Social Entrepreneurship: Bringing Local Textiles to Market, PTRI’s Ms. Nora Mangalindan on PTRI S&T Initiatives: Towards Revitalization of the Philippine Textile Industry, and Ms. Jean Goulbourn of Silk Cocoon will speak about Innovations in Textile and Fashion.
The conference will also herald the launch of two initiatives close to PTRI’s heart
a) Tara Na, TELA Na! (TnTn!) The Nationwide Handloom Weaving Tools and Equipment Invention Contest for textile implements towards improving the indigenous textile supply chain and increasing productivity of handloom weaving communities; and
b) the Bi-Lingual Technical Manual on Handloom Weaving, a recent collaboration of PTRI and the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF).
A mini exhibit on textile research developments from the PTRI and partner-collaborators will also be on display.
TELA Nation Talks: Round Table Discussion
The Round Table Discussion (RTD) shall follow the conference. Bannered as TELA Nation Talks, the plenary centers on the concept of “From Farm and Soil to Dress and Joy (Mula Sakahan at Lupa Hanggang Baro at Saya)” and hopes to validate the thrust towards Regional Yarn Innovation Centers. Expected participants to the RTD include DOST Regional Directors, NGOs and representatives from state universities and Colleges. The Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) of the Department of Agriculture was invited to present the Fiber Map of the Philippines while Culturaid, Inc. will share insights on sourcing experiences of handloom products in the regions. Professor Fortunato T. Dela Peña of the U.P. Engineering Research & Development Foundation, Inc. will facilitate and synthesize the RTD.
