Taguig City, Philippines | July 18, 2025 — As part of its two-day market scoping mission in Metro Manila under Project DESIRE Phase II, Aldersgate College, Inc. (ACI) visited several key research and development centers under the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) to explore the transformative potential of natural fibers and textile innovation for rural enterprise development.
Representatives from ACI, the Provincial Cooperative and Enterprise Development Office (PROCEDE), and a partner academic institution visited three specialized DOST-PTRI hubs: the Natural Textile Fiber Innovation Hub, the Tela Gallery Textile Design and Innovation Hub, and the PTRI Innovation Center for Yarns and Textiles.
The team was given an in-depth orientation on sustainable textile production, with a particular focus on the processing of pineapple, abaca, and cotton fibers. These indigenous and renewable materials are being transformed into high-value yarns and fabrics using environmentally friendly technologies that align with the principles of responsible consumption and production.
During the site tour, the group also visited the textile manufacturing floor, where they observed live demonstrations of yarn processing, fiber blending, and weaving—highlighting the end-to-end capabilities of PTRI’s innovation infrastructure.
The learnings gained from this exposure are expected to inform upcoming initiatives in student innovation, community textile enterprise, and curriculum enhancement in ACI’s business and agriculture-related programs.
Project DESIRE Phase II champions sustainable, innovation-based rural development by building strong linkages between academic institutions and national research agencies like DOST-PTRI.
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