The Department of Science and Technology (DoST) and the municipality of Vintar in Ilocos Norte on Friday officially launched the region’s Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) to strengthen the country’s textile industry by helping local weavers and other stakeholders meet their demand for quality yarn.
“The launch of RYPIC here in Ilocos Norte represents a transformative milestone, one that can undoubtedly reach far beyond the borders of this province, catalyzing regional growth and national progress,” DoST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said through the launch event in mixed English and Filipino.
The brand new micro-scale yarn-spinning facility processes natural textile fibers (NTFs), reminiscent of abaca, banana, pineapple, bamboo, and cotton, into high-quality NTF-blended yarns. It also has in-house dyeing and ending capabilities and houses a basic yarn testing laboratory for product quality assurance and compliance.
The ability’s infrastructure was funded by the municipal government of Vintar, while the advanced textile technologies used to provide the yarns were provided by the DoST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DoST-PTRI). It should be operated by a pool of textile engineers, technicians, and scientists.
Since its soft launch in November last yr, the power has already produced 1,000 kilograms of cottonized yarn, which shall be distributed to local weavers within the region.
The ability, which is the most important among the many 4 RYPICs within the country when it comes to constructing size and production capability, can produce around 50 to 75 kilograms of yarn per day. It’s projected to generate between P25 million and P72 million in annual revenue, DoST-PTRI said.
DoST-PTRI Director Julius L. Leaño Jr. said the establishment of the power could support at the very least 860 weavers and 56 handweaving communities within the Ilocos Region, the second-largest weaving hub within the country after the Cordillera.
In the course of the launch, several key government officials from the region expressed their support for and gratitude over the development of the RYPIC.
Vintar Mayor Richard A. Degala noted that the power strengthens the municipality’s sustainable livelihood initiatives.
“The RYPIC is an incredible blessing that can help us realize our goals and aspirations,” Mr. Degala said in his keynote speech in Filipino, referring to the municipality’s sustainable livelihood initiatives.
“The RYPIC will function a bridge to a brighter future for our production of high-quality yarn and textiles, not just for the municipality of Vintar but additionally for your entire Ilocos Region and Luzon,” he added.
The RYPIC also supports Republic Act No. 9242, or the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, which mandates using natural fiber-based fabrics in government uniforms.
Following the power’s launch, it is predicted to undergo succeeding phases, including technology system validation and business incubation (Phase 2), full commercialization or licensing (Phase 3), and expansion and scaling up (Phase 4). — Edg Adrian A. Eva