Weaving industry gains from Iloilo’s positioning as MICE destination

• Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=981525
• Friday, April 21, 2017

(PNA), PGLENA

ILOILO CITY, April 21 -- The influx of visitors coming to Iloilo as a result of the massive campaign for this part of the country to be considered as meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibits (MICE) destination has helped revived the once rich weaving industry of this place.

Iloilo City tourism officer Junel Ann P. Divinagracia said that the weaving industry suffered a setback due to the entrance of cheap cloth from China and the low appreciation of woven products.

“We used to be a textile capital,” she said in an interview on Friday.

However, these products locally known as “hablon” became prominent when introduced to delegates in several meetings hosted by Iloilo during the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and other conventions held here.

Hablon products are sourced from weavers in Arevalo and towns of Oton, Miagao and Dingle in Iloilo.

Iloilo City’s tourism receipts last year amounted to around PHP18 billion, which already included the purchase of various "hablon" products.

"Hablon" is now being used not only for clothing or shawls but already as materials for household decors.

“We are very thankful that the weaving industry is alive again. We are promoting them as souvenir items,” she said.

She added that currently a convention in Manila has ordered 500 pieces of shawls for their delegates.

“I almost run short of supplies for 'hablon',” she said.

On Monday, a textile firm from Manila will arrive in Iloilo City to give out cotton materials to Iloilo weavers.

Meanwhile, as a convention destination, Iloilo City is now 98 percent ready to host the 29th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) International General Assembly (SIGA) slated April 26-30.

Their assembly in Iloilo will be highlighted by several social contribution activities with the Ati community in Barangay Lanit of this city as recipients.

Divinagracia said that a water catchment project will be installed in the community that will address the scarcity of water supply in the area. The visitors will also do tree planting activity in the barangay and engage children in a story-telling event on April 27.

The 200 delegates from ASEAN countries and Japan who used to be youth leaders are now holding prominent personalities back in their respective countries, she said.

From Iloilo they will proceed to Boracay Island on April 30.