Amateur, professional designers welcome to design gov’t uniforms

Department of Science and Technology (Photo: Department of Science and Technology VII/Facebook)

MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is urging both amateur and professionals designers to join the design competition for government uniforms.

This contest would be officially launched by the second quarter of 2018, Norly Villar, supervising science research specialist at the DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday.

Villar said the contest aimed to increase awareness on Philippine tropical fabrics and local weaves by mainstreaming them into regular, everyday outfits.

The competition also aims to jumpstart Republic Act (RA) 9242 or the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law.

In 2004, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed RA 9242, which prescribes the use of Philippine tropical fabrics in uniforms of government officials and employees.

Since the contest is yet to be launched, Villar said interested designers must check out for the mechanics soon.

Villar, meanwhile, hinted that the DOST targets to pick six designs for government agencies, including the DOST.

The other possible agencies will not be named yet, pending their commitment, according to Villar.

“The contest also intends to provide designs that the other five government agencies would adopt. The winning designs must be tailored for them and would embody the essence of their mandates,” he said.

PTRI is celebrating its 51st anniversary this year with the theme, “Concept to Cloth.” The theme centers on giving an opportunity to the government, academe, and the private sector to translate ideas into materials, processes, and solutions leading to more prospects and impact in the textile industry.

PTRI Director Celia Elumba told PNA there is a very rich source of indigenous textile materials in the country.

“Abaca, for instance, is endemic to the Philippines. Most likely, it does not exist in other countries,” she said, adding Filipinos must take advantage of local materials’ unique characteristics.