Manila: The vice chairperson of the House committee on Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples has urged more educational institutions to actively participate in the preservation of indigenous knowledge by integrating it into the senior high school (SHS) curriculum.

According to Philippines News Agency, Pe±arrubia town in Abra recently announced that the Pe±arrubia Integrated School has introduced weaving as a subject for SHS students. This subject includes lessons on natural dyeing, weaving, and embroidery, featuring designs that reflect the culture of the Tingguian (Itneg) people. The local government of Pe±arrubia has allocated funds to support this initiative, providing resources such as tilar (foot looms), threads, and other necessary materials for students to learn the indigenous craft.

Solid North Party-list Representative Ching Bernos, in a news release, praised the efforts of her province mates in Abra for their initiative to preserve the weaving tradition by incorporating it into the SHS curriculum. She expressed hope that other towns and schools across the country would follow suit, becoming active partners in preserving indigenous knowledge and practices. Bernos emphasized that integrating these traditions into the curriculum would inspire the next generation to ensure the continuation of Philippine indigenous traditions.

Furthermore, Bernos highlighted the importance of integrating indigenous peoples' products and knowledge to help them thrive in the modern world. She has also called on Congress to deliberate on her pending bill, which would mandate the use of neo-ethnic Philippine textiles in the academic regalia of state universities and colleges, as well as local universities and colleges across the country.

House Bill No. 3111, known as the Philippine Neo-Ethnic Textile Development bill, aims to preserve the culture of handloom weaving and provide opportunities for weaving communities to engage in neo-ethnic textile production. Bernos stated that her proposal seeks to recognize weaving as intangible cultural heritage and aims to offer sustained government support for skills transmission, production, innovation, and marketing. The bill also seeks to empower weavers, particularly women, by providing them access to livelihood, training, infrastructure, and social protection.