Skill building through non-formal education is a means of ensuring an effective labor force. It not only equips new and existing entrants into the workforce with the necessary skills and competencies, it also ensures confidence in their effectiveness and potential contribution to industry.

With this in mind, the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) sought accreditation of training courses from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and for eventual inclusion as a National Certificate Course (NCC). TESDA currently offers NCCs related to garment sector such as dressmaking and fashion Design. No courses are available relating to textile manufacturing, in particular, for the handloom weaving sector.

The skills and expertise on handloom weaving is largely learned informally through experience as it is observed or handed down through generations. No formal training mechanisms are available. This is disadvantageous for both worker, whose skills go unrecognized, and for companies who engage their services. Thus PTRI through a project focused on enabling the handloom sector, worked with TESDA to collaborate in offering these training courses. Among the training courses that can be part of the program are yarn spinning focusing on natural fiber-blended yarn, powerloom weaving, handloom weaving, knitting, textile dyeing, and textile finishing.

PTRI currently offers quality industry skills training to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and other stakeholders of the textile and allied industries to help ensure high-quality skilled labor force, increase employment and income-generation. The Institute also extends its support to government and non-government agencies through the conduct of in-house training for first-hand experience on use of equipment and machineries to trainees. It also helps to promote countryside growth through skill-based training by sending experts to the regions in support of the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP) of DOST.

The (TESDA), being the central government agency focused in the development of Filipino labor force through non-formal education is the perfect partner for the Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) in realizing its vision of a revitalized textile program for the handloom woven sector .

This PTRI-TESDA collaboration is envisioned to develop quality competency standards of training for the handloom weaving industry. This development can facilitate the accreditation of training/assessment centers and certification of the required skills.

Initially, PTRI will lend its facilities to be used as the Training Center. This becomes the practical course of action since the Institute houses equipment and machineries that will be required for the enumerated competencies. TESDA, in the regions and provinces, can offer the courses and handle the technical education of parties interested in these under a National Certificate Program. In this manner, weavers will gain due recognition for the skill that weaving is and access to these training courses will be made easier for those in the many provinces of our country.