ISU houses the country’s 2nd Regional Yarn Center

Philippine’s second Regional Yarn Center Production and Innovation Center (RYPIC) finds new home at Isabela State University following its official launching ceremony earlier this morning (June 23).

RYPIC- Isabela which is housed at ISU-Ilagan Campus takes after the first center established at Miag-ao, Iloilo which aims to harness local-based fiber production by local and indigenous weavers, vitalizing both culture and commerce within the textile industry.

It is under the project DOST Inclusive Innovation Textiles Empowering Lives Anew or i2TELA Program in collaboration with ISU as the partner academe, DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI), DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST PCIEERD), DOST Region II, City Government of Ilagan, and the Provincial Government of Isabela.

The RYPIC Isabela further advances the textile ecosystem by providing Bamboo as an additional to the roster of raw materials other than Abaka, Pineapple, and Banana, explains Engr. Daniel Leon Lavia, Program Leader of the i2TELA Program.

The Bamboo fibers will be processed through the complementing operations of the two Textile Fiber Innovation Hub, with one also housed by ISU at its Cauayan Campus, and the other at Apayao State College, Luna, Apayao.

Both hubs were established early this year to propel the processing of Bamboo fibers.

Engr. Lavia further explains that the presence of collaborating sectors in the local value chain, including the farmers, SUCs, LGUs, and the government, creates a more inclusive and sustainable framework in fostering the textile ecosystem.

For ISU to sustain its part to this venture, University President Dr. Ricmar P. Aquino commits in developing a roadmap that would allow the continuing participation of the academe in support to the operations of RYPIC.

DOST PTRI estimates that the “facility can produce 50kgs of yarns per day (8h) which translates to 270m of handloom woven (1m width) fabrics”.

According to DOST PTRI, one RYPIC may produce 13,200kgs of yarns per year which can be used to produce 36,000 m of 60″ width fabrics for 24,000 pieces of a female blouse or 18,000 office Barong. (GZ/BJC/JF-UMIS-CMS)