The status of the textile industry in
the Philippines is very discouraging. It is a product of poor planning and
pressures brought about by globalization. Common economics knowledge dictates
that those who can produce should produce, and those who can’t should simply
buy. If it is cheaper to import goods from other countries, we shouldn’t be
wasting our resources in it. Rather, we should simply turn our energies towards
products that we are capable of excelling in. The Philippines is a miniscule
country compared to first world countries. Opening ourselves up to
globalization just caused our local industries to admit defeat to
multi-national companies, leaving us dependent on imported goods.
It
is too late to say that we shouldn’t have let USA bully us into accepting our 3rd
world fate. Our current status is probably better than being ostracized,
because there’s nothing worse than being labeled as a terrorist country and be
bombed constantly just because. All that we could do is conform to the economic
system and analyze how we got to where we are, what we could have done to
prevent our unfortunate status, look for ways to mitigate loss, and act on
possible solutions to our problems.
It
is only the government who is capable of causing a country-wide change with
just the country’s interest in mind. There has to be a serious, honest to
goodness re-assessment of the status of the country because we can’t just keep
on producing stuff that will not contribute much to our economy. We can put
extra efforts in cultivating crops that can be our star fiber producer or
develop new and innovative ways to synthesize fibers for fabric manufacturing.
This way, we can easily market ourselves better because we can offer the world
something that is not available anywhere else. We can treat the industry like
it is just in its infancy stage and train a new work-force for research and for
production. As clothing technology students, we can be pioneers in transforming
the textiles industry into something that the country will be proud of.
There’s
a lot that needs to be done before we can be anywhere near a thriving textiles
industry. The government would have to eliminate corruption to ensure that the
budget for research and development of our textiles really gets the funding
that it deserves. Government institutions should find better motivations for
their employees. Unlike private companies who require their employees to work
quickly and efficiently, government offices are not pressured to present
outputs immediately because income is not part of the picture. There should be
a more effective rewards and recognition system to hasten developments in our
technology. Education will also play a big role in helping our country. Values
such as patriotism should be instilled in each and every citizen of the
country. We must work hard with our country’s status in mind, and not just for
our personal gain. Knowledge is also important in improving the textiles
industry. A good academic foundation is crucial to ensure that all these
efforts are taken care of by capable thinkers.
The presence of more
than one fashion school in the country means that the Philippines is still
willing to keep the clothing industry alive. We, clothing technology students,
have the most exposure to critical issues. We are expected to contribute a lot more
for our country especially because our education is subsidized by taxes. We
should make it a point to pressure ourselves to give back to the country as
early and as much as we can not just because we are expected to, but because
studying in UP made us think this way. We must never forget to think and act,
and never stop seeking solutions until the textiles and garments industry of
our country is back in its full glory.
