Government agencies and the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC) feel intellectual property (IP) protection is a must for the resurgence of the Philippine textile industry and preparing the fashion sector for global competitiveness.

Under the 2020-2029 Garments and Textiles Industry Roadmap of the department of trade and industry (DTI), the country aims to become part of the top 10 global suppliers of garments with a 45.8 per cent annual increase in garment exports by 2029. 

At a recent award event hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) officer-in-charge Julius Leano Jr. shared how the organisation pursued a more aggressive patenting strategy during the pandemic, perceiving that as a way to break new grounds in textile innovation.

PTRI’s revamped innovation strategy now involves a more robust use of the patent system, starting with a patent search to identify white spaces in the textile innovation space to applying patent grants for its technologies at the earliest possible phase in research and development, a press release from IPOPHL said.

PFC president Carissa Cruz-Evangelists lauded IPOPHL for strengthening capacities of universities and colleges to utilse and promote the use of the IP system, which is a core mission of IPOPHL’s Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) programme.

Philippine Fibre Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) acting executive director Annray V Rivera said the agency is committed to be a partner in implementing the geographical indication (GI) regulations for the fibre craft industries.

Out of over 30 Philippine products vetted as potential GIs, over 30 per cent are textile and wearables.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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