TTTAAABBBLLLEEE OOOFFF CCCOOONNNTTTEEENNNTTTSSS Message from the Secretary 1 Message from the Director 2 Generation of New Knowledge 3 and Technologies Diffusion of Knowledge and 16 Technologies Provision of S&T Quality 31 Services Recipients of the 2007 PRAISE 47 Awards Directory of PTRI Officials 48 I commend you, the officials and staff of the Philippine Textile Research Institute, for your continued commitment to serve the Filipino people, particularly the MSMEs. Your constancy in delivering appropriate services and diffusing technologies to your clienteles have improved the quality of their products, and increased their productivity that enabled them to be more competitive. The continuing development of new sources of textile yarns from the country's abundant natural resources has resulted in fibers suitable for home textiles. Furthermore, PTRI's work on the establishment of dyeing parameters for new natural sources of colors is a timely response to the increasing consumer demand for eco-friendly products. I especially commend your promotional activities for the use of Philippine tropical fabrics and natural dyes, with your participation in DZMM's events like the “Kasalang Bayan” and Miss Earth International beauty contest. The former has given not only PTRI but the whole of DOST national exposure through the broadcast media and the latter, television coverage beamed to more than 80 countries that viewed the Miss Earth beauty pageant. Seeing the eight semi-finalists parade in dresses with fabrics handwoven from Philippine silk yarns and dyed naturally with pigments from plants that abound in our surroundings had evoked nationalistic pride in the Filipino's ingenuity in the artistic use of Philippine products. I hope that these achievements will spur the management and staff of PTRI to aim for greater heights in the coming years. My congratulations for a work well done! DR. ESTRELLA F. ALABASTRO DOST Secretary The year in review is another segment of the continuum of challenges and opportunities for the people who make up the organization as well as the organization itself. As in the past, we were able to deliver on our promises for our clientele and the public at large. Hence our performance was no less than the manifestation of our collective resolve to that commitment -- to serve the science and technological (S&T) needs of our constituents. We responded to the consumer trend that favored eco- friendly products by developing dyes that served as an environmentally sound alternative to conventional chemicals. Their adoption by export-oriented enterprises helped provide a fresh variety of commodities being offered in their respective overseas markets, to their advantage. These led to a fruitful partnership with companies, one of which served as the Institute’s collaborator in our technology business incubator (TBI) program. The continued advocacy for the use of our Philippine tropical fabrics (PTF) and natural dyes had been without let up. As a manifestation of our desire to step up the agency’s promotional activities, we actively participated in media-hyped events like the (a) Kasalang Bayan of DZMM, a celebration of its 21st anniversary; and (b) the Ms. Earth 2007 beauty pageant, by providing the clothing materials as well as the dyeing services of the couples who got married as well as the eight semi-finalists, respectively. It is our fervent hope, that in so doing, we would win the hearts and patronage of our citizenry and other nationalities as well, both here and overseas, for their continued endorsement to this campaign. From the broader perspective of attaining significance, as shown by our accomplishments for CY 2007, we aspired to prove that the economic use of indigenous materials could be extended further, apart from the typical tendencies of taking things for granted. As such, the S&T solutions that we created and offer properly responded to the needs of our stakeholders. Given the struggles that the Institute had to hurdle, the silver lining in our challenging situation lies in the anticipated additional resource infusions that would be granted to our cause. Accordingly, the budget increases that would be given to the Department for the coming year would be the national government’s expression of intensifying support to the S&T sector. The above indication would certainly cushion the detrimental effects of a diminishing manpower base. Through it all, we hope to sincerely press on with the end view in mind -- that is to facilitate the empowerment of our clientele and constituent stakeholders, towards improved quality of products and services, increased productivity and responding to global competitiveness. DR. CARLOS C. TOMBOC Director IV, CESO II Seven R&D projects were engaged in by the Institute during the year in review. These R&D projects include (a) exploration of new indigenous fiber sources, (b) continuous improvement of the properties of Philippine Tropical Fabrics (PTF) and end-use diversification studies, (c) search for new sources of natural dyes and productivity improvement thereof, and (d) sericulture-related undertakings. The R&D projects conducted resulted to 13 developed technologies, a significant addition to the list of PTRI’s established technologies, which later on could be disseminated to interested investors and other stakeholders. In addition to the above-mentioned internally-funded projects, three special projects were also undertaken -- two were funded by the DOST Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program, and the third one was funded by the Republic of Korea’s Rural Development Administration (RDA), through its linkage with the Philippine RDA Alumni Association (PhilRAA), where one of PTRI’s staff is a member. Details of the Institute’s R&D undertakings can be seen in Table 1: Table 1: R&D Projects Conducted Socio Project Duration Project Funding Name/E-mail of Title/Description of R&D Project Economic Start End Estimated Funding Project Leader Objective Expenditures Source Development of Natural Dye Technologies for the Industrial Jan-07 Dec-07 Julius L. Leaňo 1, 753, 526.37 GAA Production of Red and Yellow Colors production [email protected] This project aimed to improve the productivity of the and natural dye application technology for various textile technology materials through the development of technology for the production of red and yellow colors from natural dyes. Bioprospecting and Development of Natural Dyeing using Industrial Jan-07 Dec-07 Julius L. Leaňo 1, 519, 082.02 GAA Leaves and Flowers production [email protected] This project aimed to screen leaves and flowers found, and grown, and cultivated in the Philippines as possible viable technology sources of natural dyes and to optimize the extraction and textile application of such. Utilization of Maguey and Water Hyacinth Fibers for the Industrial Jan-07 Dec-07 Eduardo M. Marin 1, 637, 071.42 GAA Production of Coarse Count Yarns production [email protected] This project aimed to develop yarns of different counts and and blends from fibers extracted from maguey and water technology hyacinth for use in hometextiles. Improvement of Pilling and Abrasion Resistance Indigenous Industrial Jan-07 Dec-07 Marites S. de Leon 1, 411, 540.93 GAA Fiber-Blended Fabrics Through Finishing Treatment production [email protected] This project aimed to improve the aesthetic and functional and properties of Philippine tropical fabrics through the technology application of suitable finishing treatment to ensure marketability and competitiveness of the fabrics in the local and international markets. Development of Pineapple Fiber-Blended Yarns for Knit Shirts Industrial Jan-07 Dec-07 Ronald S. Pechera 1, 455, 084.80 GAA This project aimed to improve the established processing production [email protected] conditions for pineapple fibers to develop knitting yarns and applicable for shirts. technology Field Test Verification of New Benguet Silkworm Hybrids Agricultural Jan-07 Dec-07 Paul M. Bacuso 4, 578, 538.04 GAA This project aimed to sustain the sericulture industry with production [email protected] increased cocoon production through the development and of more potent silkworm hybrids that would translate into technology higher productivity. Title/Description of R&D Project Socio Project Duration Project Funding Name/E-mail of Economic Start End Estimated Funding Project Leader Objective Expenditures Source Adaptation and Evaluation of 21 Benguet Silkworm Hybrids Agricultural Jan-07 Dec-07 Cheryl G. Lopez 4, 280, 038.94 GAA Under Mindanao Conditions production [email protected] This project aimed to collect and maintain silkworm breeds and developed in Benguet for commercial hybrid egg technology production in Mindanao. Varietal Improvement of Silkworm F1 for Higher Cocoon Agricultural Jan-07 Oct-07 Cheryl G. Lopez 700,000.00 GIA Productivity production [email protected] (MOOE only) The project aimed to produce higher cocoon yield and silkworm hybrids through different crossbreeding methods technology that would redound to an increased income for cocoon producers. Locality-Centered Screening & Verification of Dye Extraction Industrial Feb-07 Jan-08 Julius L. Leaňo 997,000.00 GIA and Textile Application of Natural Dye-yielding Plants for the production [email protected] (MOOE only) Local MSME's and Handloom Weaving Sector and The project aimed to customize the PTRI natural dyes technology Technology based on the quality of dye sources available on selected identified localities, and to conduct product development activities using natural dyes for the fiber-craft and handloom weaving industries in a given locality. Establishment of Technology Demonstration Farm for Korean Industrial Mar-07 Feb-08 Julius L. Leaňo 247,500.00 Korea-Rural Natural Crafts production [email protected] Development The project aims to reinforce and enhance the current and Administration capabilities of the existing Natural Dye Common Service technology (RDA)/ Philippine Facility (CSF) in Aklan by infusing the Korean natural dye RDA Alumni technologies, products, and marketing approaches, Association thereby improving the CSF's capacity to meet the demands of its clientele.