DTI Iloilo OIC-Provincial Director Felisa Judith Degala led the soft-launching of the Shared Service Facility (SSF) for the Upgrading of Loomweaving Center in Brgy. Baraclayan, Miag-ao, Iloilo on July 22.
Degala was accompanied by Miag-ao Municipal Mayor Macario Napulan, represented by Anthony Selorio, Baraclayan Punong Barangay Marlou Niones, village officials and the loomweavers, among others.
The SSF was established for the hablon weavers in the community.
Hablon is a hand-woven cloth traditionally made of locally-made fibers such as piña, abaca, and cotton. It also refers to both the process of making the fabric and its finished product.
The SSF for the Upgrading of Loomweaving Center in Baraclayan is a beneficiary of seven steel handlooms with accessories and one manual swing machine. It has a total project cost of P164,500.
Prior to the upgrading of the facility, the loomweavers only produces shawls and scarfs with a monthly revenue of at least P80,000. With the additional equipment, they could produce patadyong and hablon cloth and could triple their production of shawls and scarfs, which is estimated to reach their monthly sales of up to P300,000.
DTI VI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon underscored that the agency is doing its best to extend assistance to the micro, small and medium enterprises especially in this tough time caused by the pandemic Covid-19.
