MMSU and the Nagbacalan Loomweavers Multipurpose Cooperative (NLMPC) have agreed to conduct researches on modern loomweaving designs in an attempt to improve the quality of local woven clothing items so that these could compete in national and global markets.

In a meeting on Jan. 25 at the Office of the President, Dr. Prima Fe Franco, officer in charge, lauded this partnership saying that this is a big step towards improving the quality of local products that are an important part of the Ilocano tradition and identity.

As stipulated in the memorandum of agreement signed between the representatives of NLMPC and MMSU, the university shall serve as the project manager that supervises the implementation of the research activities in collaboration with the NLMPC. Whatever design outputs that will be generated shall remain as the property of the university because these will be covered by the University Intellectual Property Office (UIPO). Charito Cariaga, NLMPC board chair, signed for the cooperative while Dr. Franco affixed her signature on behalf of the university.

At present, there are several weaving looms at the MMSU College of Technology in Paoay that would serve as equipment for the conduct of the research. She said part of the roles of MMSU under this agreement is to designate university employees who would serve as members of the research team that will process the procurement of other equipment, supplies and materials including the maintenance cost needed by the loomweaving facilities.

For its part, the NLMPC shall assist in the recruitment of trainees that would undergo in the training program meant to fine tune their skills in producing quality products. The cooperative may also provide resource speakers for these training programs.

Aside from this, the cooperative shall supervise the weavers in producing woven products, provide information/feedbacks for the improvement of outputs, and assist in the procurement of materials for weaving and loom maintenance.

Under this project, all industrial designs that will be created are the property of MMSU and at the end of the research project, the technology generated may be adapted and used by the NLMPC following the guidelines set in the MMSU Technology Transfer Protocol.

USAID-STRIDE has provided P1.6-M for the project, “Developing new patters and designs for the local weaving industry in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.” Prof. Lawrence Eclarin of CAS is the project’s principal investigator. She, together with Dr. Marilou Lucas, research director, signed the MOA as witnesses.

Ms. Cariaga was accompanied by Nenita Cabulisan and Zenaida Maculam, NLMPC board members, who served as witnesses on the part of the cooperative. (By Reynaldo E. Andres)