DOST-PTRI urges compliance with PTF Law, eyes ₱17.8-billion market for local textile industry
DOST-PTRI urges compliance with PTF Law, eyes ₱17.8-billion market for local textile industry
NEWS
6/24/20262 min read
The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Textile Research Institute is intensifying efforts to enforce compliance with the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law across government agencies, a move it says could unlock a ₱17.8-billion annual market for locally made uniforms.
DOST-PTRI is pushing for fuller implementation of Republic Act 9242, which requires government agencies to use Philippine Tropical Fabrics — locally sourced textiles made from natural fibers such as abaca, pineapple, banana, bamboo, cotton and silk — in official uniforms and government-issued attire. The institute said awareness and procurement gaps persist among some agencies and local government units.
Government data show the annual Uniform or Clothing Allowance for public employees totals roughly ₱17.8 billion. About half is estimated to go toward textile procurement, translating to demand for approximately 30 million meters of fabric a year at an average of ₱300 per meter.
DOST-PTRI Director IV Dr. Julius L. Leaño Jr.
DOST-PTRI Director IV Dr. Julius L. Leaño Jr. said the scale of that demand — and full compliance with the law — presents a clear opportunity to activate the domestic textile supply chain end to end.
"Government uniform requirements can drive production across the entire value chain — from fiber cultivation to yarn production, weaving, and garment manufacturing," Leaño said. "Full compliance with the PTF Law can transform public procurement into a stable market for local producers."
The institute said domestic fiber supply is adequate to support increased production when properly integrated into the supply chain. Cotton farms covering 12,600 hectares can yield about 2,270 metric tons annually, with other natural fibers contributing roughly 1,000 metric tons more — a raw material base DOST-PTRI says is sufficient to meet estimated PTF demand.
The agency also cited sustainability gains from the shift, saying PTF-based fabrics can reduce carbon emissions compared with conventional polyester materials.
To support compliance, DOST-PTRI is providing technical standards, testing and certification for qualifying fabrics. It is coordinating with the Civil Service Commission on enforcement, the Department of Trade and Industry on market development for local manufacturers, and the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority on fiber cultivation support.
Through its FRONTIER program — Fostering the Revitalization of Nascent Textile Innovation Ecosystems in the Region — the institute is setting up textile innovation hubs nationwide to connect fiber producers, weavers, designers and manufacturers into a coordinated production ecosystem.
DOST-PTRI is calling on government agencies and industry partners to accelerate full compliance with RA 9242, framing it as both a legal obligation and a concrete economic opportunity for Filipino farmers, weavers and manufacturers. The push is being advanced under the institute's "Telang Pinoy" advocacy, its campaign for government adoption of locally made Philippine tropical fabrics.
For more information, contact ptri@ptri.dost.gov.ph or visit ptri.dost.gov.ph