Lumban gets recognition as Philippines' embroidery capital

Embroidered garments reach exclusive stores in Metro Manila and worn by our country’s prominent personalities. It usually bears a high price tag ranging from P 5,000 for a men’s barong up to P 500,000 for an intricately designed wedding gown, mostly made of expensive and delicate pina fibers from Aklan.

Coming up with a beautifully embroidered garment takes a lot of time and effort, taking five days to produce a simple hand-made barong Tagalog and a couple of weeks for an elaborate one.

According to Marivic Gordovez, leader of the LEAMPC, their members make up the 80% of all embroidery houses in Lumban.

In a month, the cooperative produces around 3,000 pieces of garments made with artisanal handwork and 5,000 pieces with the cooperative’s old embroidery machines.

Marivic sees the potential of the cooperative to expand its production given the talent and hardwork exerted by its members, if they can get a more powerful equipment to step up their processes.

Fortunately, Lumban’s Embroidery cooperative will get a boost in their production through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)’s Shared Services Facility (SSF) Program. Early next year, the multi-purpose cooperative will receive seven imported high speed sewing machines, which cost about P 70,000 each or a total of around P 490,000.

The said machines will beef up the cooperatives’ production capacity and will bring more efficiency and increased output for the multi-purpose cooperative’s embroidery production.

Lumban’s embroidery industry is one of the priority industry clusters identified by DTI to receive production equipment under the Shared Services Facility Program of the Department.

Spearheaded by the Regional Operations and Development Group, the SSF is one of DTI’s priority programs that aim to support the development of the micro, small, and medium enterprises such as multi-purpose cooperatives by giving them the necessary equipment to improve their production capabilities and increase the competitiveness of their products.

During the recent International Conference of Cooperative Enterprise, Secretary Gregory Domingo announced the setting up of about a thousand shared services facilities in different clusters across the country that will benefit the MSMEs, in line with the Aquino administration’s inclusive growth agenda.

“We will identify priority industry clusters nationwide, as well as partner agencies such as cooperatives. We will be providing equipment to cooperatives so that they can improve production efficiency and the quality of products,” Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said.