Aims to establish Three more Bamboo Textile Fiber Innovation Hubs (BTFIHs) by the end of 2024
The Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) plans to establish at least three more Bamboo Textile Fiber Innovation Hubs (BTFIHs) in Abra, Bukidnon, and Pangasinan provinces by the end of 2024, adding to its current three hubs. Bamboo fibers can be used for clothing and home textiles. Nonwovens could be used for shoes, bags, and acoustic insulation, among other things. BTFIH facilitates the processing of bamboo into raw bamboo textile fibers (BTF), which can be processed into textiles.
The hub is also funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development through the project, “Field Verification of the Bamboo Textile Material Production and Treatment Technology”.
PTRI officer Julius Leao has said that the PTRI is expected to be launched in Lagangilang, Abra this year. By 2024, PTRI will establish a BTFIH in Maramag, Bukidnon and another in Pangasinan. The latest was launched in Maragondon, Cavite on May 3, while the first two are located in Naguilian, La Union and Cauayan, Isabela.
Bamboo has at least 35 % textile fiber recovery compared to other fiber sources, with a recovery rate of only 2%. In addition to being abundant and robust throughout the Philippines, it is a sustainable textile fiber source.
A raw bamboo textile fiber (BTF) can be processed into a textile by BTFIH. For more extensive deployment, the technologies can also be fabricated locally, making them simple, deployable, and scalable.
The raw BTF is priced at about PHP250 per kg., compared to about PHP10 per kg. of bamboo, he said, adding that the BTFIH would enable more material transformation and value addition.
According to PTRI, BTFIH Cavite would ensure that bamboo textile fibers would be available for subsequent textile manufacturing processes. The PTRI will use these fibers to spin yarns that will be available for use by the weavers of Maragondon, Cavite.
