TO GLOBAL SCALE: ECCP innovation project levels up Raffia weavers

CEBU, Philippines - With the help of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), through its Business Accelerator and Materials Innovation project, more Raffia weavers in Bohol are expected to gain global market attention.

Ingrid Haufe, ECCP Materials Research and Development project manager said that with the global trend, where consumers are demanding for sustainable products, Raffia weavers in Bohol have a huge opportunity to earn more, and gain the attention from big export companies.

Through the project, about 32 Raffia weavers in Inabanga, and Tubigon Bohol are taught to better manipulate designs by mixing Raffia to any available recycled materials such as seaweed waste, cotton, fiber material, plastic straw, among others, making them into unique products that have best potential to hit the global consumers.

The program, also assisted by the European Commission’s MART-Cebu (SMEs for Environment Accountability, Responsibility, and Transparency), is also trying to develop a pool of weavers that are capable of making new design patterns and mixed media applications based on the latest trends.

According to Haufe, indigenous materials are gaining popularity among foreign markets due to the increasing preference of many consumers for environment-friendly products.

“Bohol is one of the provinces in the region that supplies raffia of good quality and along with innovative and artistic designs by weavers, Filipino products will make a big hit in the international market. It is a win-win situation for everyone - more demand means an increase in profit for exporters and more work opportunities for weavers,” Haufe said.

She added that in mixed media applications, weavers use recycled materials such as newspapers and old plastic twine with raffia. They also use other indigenous materials like buri and abaca in incorporating the new designs.

Haufe stressed that after tapping the weavers in Inabanga and Tubigon towns, the program will also be offered to weaving centers in other Bohol municipalities since ECCP is optimistic that the volume of products will significantly increase this year.

The innovation of Bohol’s weaving centers is a seven-month project of the ECCP and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Central Visayas.

Began in February this year, the project is geared to assist raffia weavers in the province, particularly in the enhancement of their skills and even make better their designs.

In a press conference, ECCP-Cebu executive director Roselu Paloma said once the waivers will master the new applications introduced by the program, their produce will be showcased in different international shows such as in Germany, France, and other big markets abroad.

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 converted into actual products by exporter companies.

Through this program, Bohol will ultimately be known as the “weaving haven” although at present weavers still facing concerns on improving their skill, to include update of design and products, in order to gain strong interest from global market.