Aklan bids as loom-weaving capital of the Philippines
Kalibo, Aklan -- The province of Aklan aims to be the country's loom-weaving capital, with the exquisite and world-class Pina Cloth, the "Queen" of Philippine fabrics, as its star product.
This bid of Aklan was further strengthened, according to DTI-Aklan's Philomena Valencia, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist, with the approval recently by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Quality Seal for loom-woven products.
Valencia said the quality seal is the first trademark registered by IPO for woven products, and this is the strength considered by DTI and Aklan Pina manufacturers and traders in conquering the European market which in turn will further generate and enliven local and national economy.
Most of Aklan's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) engage in the production and export of pina and other loom-woven products like abaca and raffia, generating jobs and income for Aklanons as pina planters, scrapers, knotters, weavers and many others.
Kalibo, Aklan's capital town, also identifies the pina cloth as its prime product, being the regions' One Town, One Product (OTOP) model, according to Valencia.
OTOP is a priority program of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs.
Just recently, PGMA thanked the millions of "hardworking, taxpaying Filipinos, including overseas workers, who have come together to help turn around the country's economic fortunes. "The bandwagon of Filipino productivity and excellence is pulling us forward in the world," according to PGMA.
Valencia, who disclosed the latest development on the quality seal of Aklan's loom-woven product over the weekly "Sugilanon Sa Kamaeayran" radio program initiated by the provincial government here as a venue for provincial and national government offices to air their current services and programs and clarify some issues, stressed that DTI's product development activities always go hand in hand with Aklan's tourism industry, a major revenue-generating source of the province.
(PIA)