DOST yarn production center to secure yarn supply for weavers in Ilocos, CAR

From the DOST public archive. Original source publication date: 2026-07-09. Captured 2026-09-04. Read the original DOST source.

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More than 1,550 local weavers in the Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region are set to gain easier access to locally produced, sustainable yarn following the launch of the country's first Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) in Ilocos Norte, a move expected to strengthen the country's centuries-old Inabel weaving tradition while creating new livelihood opportunities.

The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology Ilocos Region, Local Government of Vintar, Ilocos Norte, and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte,  formally inaugurated the facility in Vintar on July 3, 2026. 

The yarn center marks a major milestone for the Philippine textile industry, particularly for Ilocos, home to the iconic Inabel fabric and the country's second-largest weaving community.

Built under DOST-PTRI's FRONTIER Program, the micro-scale yarn-spinning facility converts locally available natural fibers—including abaca, banana, pineapple, bamboo, and cotton—into high-quality blended yarns using advanced textile technologies. The center also features in-house dyeing and finishing capabilities, allowing it to support a wider range of textile production.

DOST-PTRI Director Julius Leaño Jr. said the facility forms part of the government's broader effort to revive and promote locally made textiles. "Ang RYPIC Ilocos ay bahagi ng lumalawak na pagtugon sa pangangailangan ng pagpapasigla sa Telang Pinoy. Ang Telang Pinoy ang ating panawagan hindi lang para sa ating manghahabi kundi sa ating lahat na gamitin, tangkilikin, at isulong," Leaño said.

For many local weavers, the opening of the facility addresses a long-standing challenge. For years, weaving communities have relied on polyester yarns with lesser access to cottonized yarns that are more in demand in the market.

"Wala po talaga kaming steady producer ng yarn. Recently lang, sa online shop kami umo-order. Hindi rin po kami sigurado sa kalidad ng sinulid na dumarating," local weaver Mary Jane Garvida, President of Dumalneg Weavers Association from Ilocos Norte, shared.  

Even before its official launch, the center had already demonstrated its potential. During its soft opening in November 2025, the facility already produced over 600 kilograms of blended cottonized yarn, which will now be distributed to local weavers in the region. 

Its annual output is also enough to produce fabric for around 24,000 women's blouses or 18,000 office barongs, helping expand the country's supply of locally made tropical fabrics.

The initiative also supports Republic Act No. 9242, or the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law, which encourages the use of natural fiber-based fabrics in government uniforms. According to DOST-PTRI, each RYPIC can contribute about two percent of the country's annual yarn requirement needed for full compliance with the law.

Beyond yarn production, it is envisioned as the center of the region's textile innovation ecosystem. It processes fibers sourced from Bamboo Textile Innovation Hubs (BTFIH) in Batac, La Union, and Lingayen, and the Natural Textile Fiber Innovation Hub (NTFIH) in Apayao, along with locally grown cotton, bamboo, and pineapple leaves. These are transformed into yarns that will be supplied to weaving communities across the Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region, where they will be turned into fabrics and value-added textile products.

The center is likewise expected to provide manufacturers, fashion designers, and creative entrepreneurs access to textile technologies that can support product development and innovation for local creative industries. 
RYPIC signals a new opportunity for weavers like Elena Laurente, a member of the Dream Weavers of Lower Surong in Vintar, Ilocos Norte, as the supply of cottonized yarns has become more accessible to their community.

"Mas malapit na ang pagbibilhan namin ng yarn. Kaya mas marami pang kababaihan ang makakapaghabi. Hindi na nila kailangang lumayo sa pamilya nila," she shared. 

The center is considered the biggest RYPIC in terms of building and capacity. It can manufacture around 50 to 75 kilograms of yarn daily, enough to produce approximately 270 meters of handwoven fabric each day. Based on an estimated market value of P1,800 per kilogram of yarn, the center is projected to generate between P25 million and P72 million in annual revenue while creating technology-driven livelihood opportunities for farmers, artisans, and textile producers supplying raw materials.

More than an innovation facility, the yarn production center symbolizes a lifeline for an industry and culture deeply woven into the identity of Ilocos.

Every spool of locally produced yarn carries the promise of preserving the artistry of Inabel, sustaining generations of weaving families, and proving that tradition can thrive alongside science, technology, and innovation.

As DOST-PTRI continues to establish similar innovation hubs across the country, the Institute hopes to build a stronger Philippine textile industry while ensuring that Filipino heritage remains alive and growing.

The Regional Yarn Production and Innovation Center is one of the many initiatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aimed at providing science-based, innovative, and inclusive solutions across four strategic pillars: human well-being, wealth creation, wealth protection, and sustainability. These pillars embody the mantra OneDOST4U: Solutions and Opportunities for All. For more information, visit www.ptri.dost.gov.ph. (By Princess Lyka S. Manoto, DOST-PTRI)