KISS MINING GOODBYE? development will be eligible for certification.” It seems, however, that IRMA — as far as the Philippines — has been overtaken by events. But, in my opinion, it is not too late. Mining companies as well as DENR should strive to be in

spend at least half the week in Calatagan, Batangas because he “is a farmer now.” Opportunist that I am, I asked them if they’d let us feature their operations for

Go Local. They agreed. For that episode, we focused a bit on value- added processes ( VAP). In this case, the VAP was the post-harvest drying, pulverizing and capsulizing of turmeric into a food supplement. This bumps up the value of a crop that costs as little as P10 per kilo into P500 per bottle of 60 caps. Not bad, hey?

I recall asking Mike and Guada if they’ve ever approached the DoST for any sort of technical assistance. I asked because all the other farms we’ve featured did, which was how I discovered the multitude of sub- DoST agencies specializing in R&D, technology transfer and all manners of assistance.

Back to that Friday on Twitter.

Shirl’s message said she had seen the turmeric episode, and that she had invited Mike and Guada to a PTRI event prior. Her next message was an invitation to check out an exhibit of Philippine Tropical Fabrics at the Senate. indicate that DENR is not bent on shutting down the industry.

As I had noted, if local miners are certified by IRMA as compliant with the new global, multistakeholder standards, then what more will the government want? IRMA will be the end all and be all of standards, and DENR’s job will simply to make sure that IRMA certifications are updated and

And so I went. And I fell in love — with amazingly textured local cottons and silks and jusi and piña and abaca! I stayed for two hours to chat with Shirl, mostly trying to figure out why these beautiful weaves are not marketed better.

Marketing is outside their mandate, she said. I checked and true enough, EO 128 dated Jan. 30, 1987 mandates the PTRI to carry out these functions:

• Conduct applied research and development for the textile industry sector;

• Undertake the transfer of completed researches to endusers or via linkage units of other government agencies; and mines are monitored strictly for compliance.

This minimizes arbitrariness and the unilateral exercise of discretion in the audit and regulatory processes, and promotes greater accountability on the part of state regulators and the mining industry. This will also mitigate corruption in the regulation, audit, and monitoring processes, GO LOCAL with HLMG’s proprietor, Mike Chiongbian

• Undertake technical services and provide training programs.

Marketing is farmed out to the Department of Trade and Industry ( which handles PEZA and the BoI among a multitude of other functions). I can imagine how swamped the DTI must be in pursuit of this new administration’s goals but at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel despair for all these beautiful products our local artisans are capable of producing. I told Shirl this,

The exhibit also showcased other products developed through science and research via a collaboration between the DoST-PTRI and artisans such as natural dyes, and modern application and will help ensure that only those fit to explore and operate mines are allowed to do so. � of traditional weaves. Several social enterprises were also present with their finished products — shoes, bags, couture, corporate uniforms and home accessories.

Now imagine what a lot of marketing can do. The textile industry sector could contribute to our sagging exports, especially with the value the modern world has placed on organic, natural methods of production (notwithstanding the rich cultural narrative behind the handcrafted products).

I admire the initiative of lowprofile government employees who really care enough to go above and beyond the means of their job descriptions, and I admire them even more to seek collaborations with small businesses like HLMG Farms’ Mike and Guada, whom Shirl wanted to ask about possibly co-developing a natural, organic dye made from turmeric.

And as I walked away, with one of the samples I was able to purchase, I was thinking not of what the DTI or the DoST can do, but what we can do. The possibilities are endless. �