By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Koko Pimentel filed a bill seeking to establish Shoe Manufacturing Hubs to “bolster the country’s footwear industry.”
The proposed legislation is titled “An Act Strengthening the Philippine Shoe Industry Providing Incentives to Local Manufacturers and For Other Purposes.”
Pimentel highlighted that the country’s once-vibrant footwear sector has struggled in recent decades due to modernization gaps, foreign competition, and minimal government backing.
“The Philippine shoe industry, once a vibrant and globally-recognized sector, has suffered a significant decline over the past decades,” the senator said.
Under Senate Bill No. 2994, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with local government units, will be tasked to identify strategic locations nationwide for the establishment of these hubs.
According to Pimentel, the program will focus on research and development in shoe design and production technologies, skills training and certification, promotion of local brands in both domestic and international markets, and the implementation of quality assurance and standardization systems.
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