Fil-Am leaders in US vow to push RP-US textiles trade bill

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-American leaders in Maryland have pledged to urge US legislators to co-sponsor/support the RP-US textiles and garments trade bill that is expected to generate thousands of jobs in the US textile industry and the Philippine garments sector.

Philippine Embassy officials led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Willy C. Gaa briefed Filipino-American leaders in Maryland on the Save Our Industries (SAVE) Act, which is now pending in the US Congress. Leaders from Northern Virginia were also present in the meeting.

Introduced by Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and co-sponsored by Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) in June 2009, SAVE Act essentially grants duty-free entry to the US of certain Philippine-made apparel products that used US fabrics.

Gaa explained that through SAVE Act, Philippine apparel products can once more become competitive in the US market and at the same time, promote the sale of US yarn and fabrics to the Philippines.

The increased trade in textiles and garment is expected to enhance the commercial well-being of the US textile industry, which is also in dire straits. This can lead to more jobs for US textile workers.

In his remarks, Gaa also said that the dwindling trade in textile and apparel has led to a significant loss of jobs in the Philippine garments sector.

In the last five years, the 600,000-strong garments workers declined to 180,000. The SAVE Act would result in creating and restoring jobs in this labor-intensive industry.

Commercial Counselor Romulo Manlapig of the Philippine Embassy added that SAVE Act is supported by US textile mills and apparel retailers such as the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AFAA), the National Retail Federation (NRF), and the US Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel.

Through the SAVE Act, US textile exports to the Philippines are expected to grow from $13.5 million in 2009 to $500 million in five years.

After realizing how SAVE Act will result in direct benefits to American and Filipino families and how it will revitalize the strong and historical trade and economic relations between the Philippines and the US, Filipino-American leaders pledged to help ensure SAVE Act’s passage by reaching out and urging their legislators to support the bill.

Including Bilbray, 12 congressmen co-sponsored the bill in the House namely, Representatives Bob Filner (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), David Dreier (R-CA), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Charles Boustany, Jr. (R-LA), Joseph Pitts (R-PA), Charles Djou (R-HI) and Filipino-American Steve Austria (R-OH).

In the Senate, the bill was introduced by Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO) and co-sponsored by the second most senior member of the US Senate and Senate appropriations committee chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI). Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) has also signed up as a co-sponsor.