A shortage of workers in yarn production is disrupting the country’s handloom textile supply chain, which has led some farmers to stop planting fiber crops and left weavers struggling to secure yarn, according to the Philippines’ Science chief.
During the recent opening of the 2026 Philippine Handloom Weaving Festival (PHWFL) at a mall in Araneta City, Cubao, Science Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the lack of machinery and workers for yarn production has weakened demand for agricultural materials that can be processed into fibers.
As a result, some farmers in areas that previously produced fiber crops have stopped planting because there is no viable market for their output, he said.
Solidum said the situation points to a broader gap in the country’s innovation ecosystem, where producers of raw materials are not sufficiently connected to industries capable of processing them into textile inputs.
‘We can clearly see that this is necessary. It is important that not only the national government but also the private sector step in and play a role in this effort, because this is what our country needs: an organization that can scale up the processing and manufacturing of the necessary materials so that more of our fellow Filipinos can produce them,’ he explained.
‘If there are better facilities that can be established to produce more yarn, then production can be done on a larger scale,’ Solidum added, noting that this would not only support handloom weaving but also expand the production of locally made garments.
He said a stronger yarn manufacturing sector could also generate jobs beyond weaving, including positions in yarn-production facilities, garment manufacturing and retail.
‘It would be better if the private industry would takeover to make it more profitable,’ he noted.
Bridging the yarn gap
Part of the government’s efforts to address the supply gap is the establishment of Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Centers (RYPICs), which are intended to process locally available fibers into yarn for weaving and textile production.
Among these is the RYPIC in the Ilocos Region, which can produce up to 13 metric tons of yarn annually under an eight-hour operating schedule, with the potential to increase output by extending operating hours.
The facility at Isabela State University-Ilagan Campus can produce about 50 kilograms of yarn per day, while the RYPIC in Cotabato has an annual production capacity of up to 40 metric tons.
However, Solidum said the existing capacity remains insufficient because demand for yarn extends beyond handloom weavers.
He pointed to the government’s own requirements for locally produced textiles under Republic Act 9242, or the Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) Act, which requires government agencies and offices to use locally produced Philippine tropical fabrics for official uniforms and attire.
Beyond increasing production and demand, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute has also been working to connect local weavers with consumers. This was among the aims of the three-day PHWF, which featured 30 weaving communities from across the country.
Last year’s PHWF in Ilocos generated more than P3.3 million over four days, with more than 120 weavers from 40 communities participating. The HIBLA Weavers’ Fair held in Araneta City in May generated another P4.1 million.
‘These numbers are important. But behind every peso is something even more important: A weaver who earned. A family who is assured of food on the table, sent their children to school, and accessed health care, a skill and tradition that is sustained,’ Solidum said.
He said the handloom sector demonstrates how an innovation can become a tradition while creating opportunities for further innovation and income generation.
‘That is the kind of impact that we want Philippine science and technology to have,’ Solidum said.