Potentials of local fibers cited

The Garments and Textile Export Board (GTEB) foresees a potential growth area for the Philippine garments industry in high-end indigenous and organic fiber materials.

According to GTEB executive director Serafin Juliano, there is a growing trend for garments made out of indigenous and organic fibers.

Juliano said the markets for such garments are mainly the United States and Europe, specifically buyers who want high quality and specialty products.

The Philippine garments industry can easily tap such market with indigenous fibers such as abaca and piña.

However, government still needs to undertake a study on the size of the potential market for garments made out of indigenous and organic fibers before going ahead to invest in gearing up the garments industry.

For one, government would have to make sure that there are enough abaca and piña plantations to supply the raw material requirements and that there are also enough abaca and piña fiber weavers since such artistic work is slowly diminishing, Juliano said.