Raffia weavers receive assistance from DTI-7

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-7) has formalized its collaboration with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) to help the marginalized raffia weavers of Bohol, through the SMART-Cebu (SMEs for Environment Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency) program supported by the European Union Commission.

The Bohol Raffia Weavers is being helped via the Materials Research and Development (R&D) program for Materials Innovation of the ECCP.

The program, which kicked off last February, is currently assisting the raffia weavers of Inabanga and Tubigon Bohol, in coming up with new design patterns and mixed media applications which will then be coverted into actual products by exporter companies.

Through the three-year SMART-Cebu program, at least 450 SME exporters in Cebu and in the region will be mentored and helped in pursuing legitimate green or environment-friendly operations.

In Cebu, three industries have already been identified to benefit this program. These are the furniture, fashion jewelry and gifts-toys-and-houseware making sectors.

The EC awarded close to one million Euro (or approximately P65 million) grant to support the greening of Cebu industries and to help Cebu position itself as an important player in the “green” markets of Europe and Asia.

Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines environment and sustainable development officer Matthieu Penot earlier said that SMEs in the export sector in Cebu need to embrace fully on ‘green manufacturing’ as there is now a growing number of consumers demanding products that are produced through environment-friendly system.

According to Penot the European Commission has recognized Cebu’s export industry in the furniture, fashion accessory and GTH, as the fastest growing sectors in the Philippines, being able to thrive amid the challenging market environment brought about by the global recession.

DTI-7 regional director Asteria Caberte said Bohol is one of the active provinces in the region that supported Cebu’s export sector especially in sourcing indigenous raw materials that will also support the bid to become a ‘green export manufacturer” in the world.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Alistair A. McDonald said that eco-friendly labels are not just a fancy foreign concept “if they add value to products and have the potential to boost sales proceeds.”

The Smart Cebu project aims at increasing environment-friendly technologies and practices among SMEs, and switch to consumption of products that are less damaging to the environment.