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Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Banig is a handwoven mat commonly used for sleeping particularly in the warm and

humid tropics. It is made from dried leaves which remain cool in the heat of the day and that

are porous enough to let ventilation through. These dried up leaves are cut into strips and

woven into mat. The most common type of these leaves in the country are buri, a palm tree

(Coryha elata Roxb), and tikog, a tall coarse Philippine sedge (Fimbristylis spp).

Throughout the Philippines, variety of indigenous making of banig are still present.

However, the most popular and most extensively used banig in country is the Samar mat.

This mat which has been traded to several parts of the country comes from the Municipality

of Basey, Samar. According to David D. Baradas on its article, In Focus: Banig: the Art of

Making Banig, “One could find the Samar mat in the markets in Mindanao as well as in

Luzon, not to mention the many islands of the Visayas. This popularity basically stems from

its attractive colors as well as its highly affordable prices.” Samar mat is made of tikog, a tall

coarse Philippine sedge (Fimbristylis spp) with tufted stems that are smooth and shiny in

appearance. Because of the tikog’s versatility, pliability, and smoothness various colorful

functional handcrafted products can be made out of it. Currently, Samart mat, or banig, has

been converted to several products like bags, suitcases, portrait mats, etc.

With the aforesaid pieces of information, this study is concerned with the

manufacturing industry of banig, especially the one that is produced in the Municipality of

Basey, Samar, and with the indigenous small-scale industries operations.


Scope and Limitations

The scope of this study will cover the registered banig manufacturers and the banig

weavers of the Municipality of Basey, Samar. Thus, the results of the study will not be

applicable to other banig manufacturers and weavers of other parts of the region nor of the

country.

In spite of this limitation, the researchers are convinced that the study will contribute

valuable information on small-scale industries and will supplement what is known about

indigenous small-scale industries mainly in the region.

Definition of Terms

To better understand the study, the terms used in the research shall be interpreted and

defined as follows:

banig – a handmade woven mat usually used for sleeping

tikog – tall coarse Philippine sedge (Fimbristylis spp) which grows profusely in

swampy areas along rice fields

naglalara/paraglara – the weavers

tagaburda – the embroider

pagpapahot – term for embroidery or the weaving of the tikog

pamugto – process of harvesting of the tikog

pagsusho – term for the segregation of the stalks

pagtatap – equally cutting the edges of the segregated stalks

paghulbo – removal of unnecessary ends of the tikog before dyeing the it

pagtina – application of color unto the tikog


pagbayo – pounding of the tikog in a wooden tablet using a roller press to flatten the

stalks

paglagot – stretching of the tikog

paglara – interlacing of tikog to form a banig which take three to seven days to weave

depending on size.

Statement of the Problem

The Municipality of Basey, Samar is widely known as a major exporter in Eastern

Visayas of the traditional hand-woven sleeping mat called banig. Labelled as the Banig

Capital of the Philippines by the Department of Tourism, the mat-weaving industry in this

locality is not yet likely to go out of business. However, despite of its current and potential

markets, it is an existing problem of the local mat-weavers on how they can be fairly

compensated by their crafts and make this livelihood sustainable. With this, the researchers

are to conduct a research on the history, industry and economic relevance of mat-making in

Basey, Samar. The researchers are to seek and provide answers for the following questions:

1. What is the history of the banig industry in Basey, Samar?

2. What is the process of crafting hand-woven sleeping mats (banig)?

3. What is the current state of the banig industry in Basey, Samar in relation to its

economic relevance as a source of livelihood to the local mat-weavers?

4. How are the hand-woven sleeping mats priced and sold in the market and what are its

different distribution channels?

5. What was the state of the banig industry after the onslaught of the typhoon Yolanda

and how were they able to recover from it?


Research Objectives

This study aims to provide answers to the following objectives:

1. To identify the processes undergone by the local mat-weavers in crafting the banig

and determine the suitable place and condition where production can occur.

2. To gather specific data on how the local mat-weavers market their finished banig

products and how these products are distributed to the retailers and wholesalers.
3. To determine the profitability and sustainability of crafting banig products.
4. To identify and examine the economic relevance of crafting banig products.
5. To determine major problems faced by the local mat-weavers in their production of

banig over the years.


6. To inquire for current government aids and/or projects which aim to support the

livelihood of local mat-weaver in Basey, Samar


7. To provide recommendations to the identified problems of local mat-weavers on the

operations and production of banig products in their locality.

Significance of the Study

As identified by the researchers, the outcome of the study on the Banig industry of

Basey, Samar will greatly benefit the local mat-weavers and contribute to the development of

this small-scale industry. Aside from digging into the history of banig and appreciating the

mat-weaving process as a traditional art in Basey, this study aims to identify the current

problems faced by the local mat-weavers and provide recommendations to such in order for

the banig industry to survive in the years to come and achieve sustainability. This study will

also help the local government of Basey to identify probable ways of providing support to

this small-scale industry in order to help boost its local economy. The significance of this

study will not solely be the above-mentioned statements. This study can also be utilized for

further studies on a similar field by future researchers.

Chapter II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE


Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises

The Philippine business sector is largely comprised of micro, small, and medium

enterprises, which is a critical driver for the country’s economic growth. MSMEs help reduce

poverty by creating jobs to compensate the Philippines’ increasing work force. 1 Republic Act

No. 9501 or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises defines MSMEs as

“any business activity or enterprise engaged in industry, agribusiness and/or services, whether

single proprietorship, cooperative, partnership or corporation.”2 The classification of MSMEs

is done according to the value of the assets that the enterprise owns. Micro businesses are

enterprises that have assets not more than P3,000,000 and have one to nine employees; small

enterprises are those that have assets ranging from P3,000,001 to P15,000,000 and have 10 to

99 employees; and medium enterprises are those that have assets ranging from P15,000,001

to P100,000,000 and have 100 to 199 employees.”3

According to the data gathered by the Department of Trade and Industry, provided by

the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are 900,914 establishments registered and operating

in the Philippines. Of these, 99.5% or 896,839 are micro, small, and medium enterprises and

the remaining 0.5% or 4,075 are registered large enterprises. MSMEs generated a total of

4,784,870 jobs in 2015 versus 2,981,819 for the large enterprises and contributed 35.7

percent of gross value-added in the economy. This strongly indicates that micro, small, and

medium enterprises, as top provider of jobs for Filipinos, contributed almost 61.6% of the

total jobs generated by all types of business establishments that year.4

1 Senate of the Philippines. “The MSME at a Glance,” AG12-03 (March 2012); available from:
https://www.senate.gov.ph/publications/AG%202012-03%20-%20MSME.pdf.
2 R.A. 9501, , accessed November 28, 2017,
http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2008/ra_9501_2008.html
3 Ibid.
4 Airiz Casta, "MSME Statistics,", http://www.dti.gov.ph/businesses/msmes/msme-resources/msme-statistics.
To bolster the economic potential of MSMEs, the SME Development Plan 2004-2010

was launched in 2004 to address the issues and challenges of the sector and had set forth

strategies of enhancing the operations of SMEs by providing support and developing business

ideas to promote expansion and diversification of the country’s industrial structure,

improving the operational environment for SMEs by developing financing support programs,

and providing support through incentives.5 Over the course of its implementation, the

programs were able to achieve the following (1) generated 6.5 million direct and indirect

jobs; (2) encouraged the registration and formalization of MSMEs by helping improve the

business and investment enabling environment of MSMEs; (3) provided Php 367.39 billion in

loans to support more than 6.3 million requests from MSMEs around the country; (4)

generated Php 20.12 billion worth of domestic MSME sales and U.S. $1.8 billion of total

MSME exports; (5) provided capacity building programs to enhance the level of 115,604

MSMEs local and international competitiveness; and (6) empowered and built the capacity of

provincial MSME development stakeholders to develop and implement provincial MSME

development plans that are harmonized with national MSME development.6

Although the programs produced remarkable and favorable results, there are still

critical issues hindering the potential growth of MSMEs that needs to be resolved. During the

Manufacturing Summit 2016 held at Manila on November 28-29, 2016 by the DTI and Board

of Investments, in cooperation with USAID and JICA, MSMEs are faced with issues and

challenges with regards of its accessibility to finance, connectivity to markets, and its

enabling business environment.7 These are (1) stringent requirements and long processing

time for loans and credit which limits them to access funds and the information on sources of

5 Ibid.
6 D. (n.d.). Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Plan for 2011-2016. Retrieved December 12,
2017, from https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0ilL7KAK3i5MEozZWpHcHg2TlU/edit
7 Raneses, . (2016, November 28). SME DEVELOPMENT & INCLUSIVE BUSINESS. Retrieved December 12, 2017,
from http://industry.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Breakout_5-SME-Development-and-Inclusive-
Business.pdf
funds, (2) high cost of selling abroad; limited knowledge of overseas markets; limited

capacity to market and product development; low capacity to use modern technology

including ICT; and non-conformance to global standards and practices, (3) and fragmented

policy and implementation support to SMEs due to not fully enforced laws and policy

implementations to SMEs.8 Because of this, the DTI and BOI are generating programs and

policies that will resolve these issues to bolster the overall growth of the MSME sector in

terms of value added, employment, number of establishments and export volume. These are

(1) conformance to quality standards by developing the National Quality Infrastructure

support for the SME sector which develops quality system certification of SMEs through

accredited certifying bodies, (2) inclusive financing for SMEs through strengthening credit

guarantee funds, financial literacy capability building, and relaxing rules on financial

requirements for SMEs, and (3) accelerating connectivity to markets by integrating MSMEs

into the global value chain and developing marketing promotions and product developments

for SMEs.9

Mat Making Tradition in the Philippines

Various cultures around the world have arisen to make living more comfortable.

Filipinos, for instance, have established traditions primarily for this purpose. One example is

the mat weaving tradition where different materials are used to make better sleeping mats.

Eventually, mat weaving not only improved a way of life but served as a source of income

and as part of a culture handed down from one generation to the next.

Banig, local term of sleeping mat, is generally the product that this tradition created.

Banig is “a hand-woven mat usually used in East Asia and the Philippines for sleeping and

8 Ibid.
9 Ibid.
sitting”.10 There are many types of banig and each type varies on their design and material.

These mats may be made up of buri (palm), pandan or sea grass leaves, depending on the

region of the Philippines.11 Throughout the country’s archipelago, Mindanao has the Tausug

mat, Maranao mat and Badjao/Samal mat; Luzon has the Palawan mat, Cordillera and

Romblon mats; while Visayas has the Samar mat.

Maranao Mat

Mat making is a common tradition of the Mindanao Muslims consisting of the

Maranao of Lanao and Maguindanaon of Cotabato. The ethnic group’s weaving is not only

shown in mats but also in textiles, basketry and other containers. Most hand-woven products

made for household are used for sleeping, and for drying palay and other grains. While, those

large ones are used to decorate the floor of the mosque. The Maranao mat is made from sesed

(Fimbristykis miliacea L.) which is “a rush plant that grows in swampy areas in both Lanao

and Cotabato”.12 Their banig details the colors of green, yellow, maroon, and blue. Most are

geometric-shaped with irregular patterns. The Maranao produces a round-shaped variety

which is unique throughout the country. 13

Badjao/Samal mat

The Badjao/Samal mat is commonly made from the pandanus plant which grows

wildly in the sandy shores of the province of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu. The pandan leaves are dyed

with green, orange, red, violet, blue, and yellow. Despite the two groups featuring the same

10 Alea Ramirez, "Banig: A Weave of Culture," Banig, February 11, 2013, , accessed December 26, 2017,
https://allaboutbanig.wordpress.com/2013/02/10/banig-a-weave-of-culture/.
11 Ibid.
12 David B. Baradas, "In Focus: Banig: the Art of Mat Making," National Commission for Culture and the Arts,
February 24, 2015, , accessed December 26, 2017, http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/banig-
the-art-of-mat-making/#.
13 Ibid.
colors, their mats are distinguished by its hue and designs. 14 Samal mats have muted shades

while Badjao mats display stronger shades. Samal mats are finished with a glossy effect, a

technique that the Badjao have not yet achieved. Generally, Samal mats have stripes, multi-

colored square, checkered, or zigzag patterns. Meanwhile, as boat-dwellers, the Badjao group

has motifs inspired by their way of life: crabs, boat, waves, and marine life forms. Lastly,

Samal mats are softer to touch and more pliable because of the mixing of coconut oil in the

dye which the Badjao do not apply.15

Tausug mat

Tausug mats have designs similar to Samal mats. Their mats are “characterized by

linearity and geometry”.16 The Tausug of Jolo has used their weaving skills for their silk

sashes, shoulder cloth or male headdress called pis siyabit. Tausug mats are produced in the

coastal towns of Patikul and Maimbung.

Tboli of Highland Mindanao

Woven mats of the Tboli group are used in the sleeping area of their houses. These

mats are made out of a “locally grown reed”. 17 The reed resembles that of a stripped bamboo

and has “a glossy outer covering which is generally resistant to dirt and fluid”. 18 Generally,

the mats are not dyed and produced in its natural color. These mats are also durable.

Palawan Mat

Palawan Island has a vast and abundant rainforest covering the rattan vines which are

the raw material of the Palawan mat. The Tagbanuas “align and piece together rattan strips to

14 Lauro R. Gacusana, "Proposed Modules in Banig Weaving," Scribd, , accessed December 27, 2017,
https://www.scribd.com/doc/109074463/Proposed-Modules-in-Banig-Weaving.
15 Ibid
16 Baradas, ibid.
17 Ibid.
18 Ibid.
form their mats”.19 This technique of making the Palawan mat makes it the most durable

among the mats in the country.

Romblon Mat

Known for their exquisite lace-like edges, Romblon mats are used as liners during the

wedding dance of a couple. Romblon mats are used when an individual has important guests.

This type of mat is made from buri palm. Same material is used in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The

mats from Pangasinan are a double-layered kind with a plaid colored side and a plain side.

Meanwhile, a thicker variety of palm, karagamoy, is used by the Bicolonos for mat making.

Aside from its natural color, a deeper brown shade is brought about by soaking it in sea water.

This process also makes it insect repellent.

Cordillera Mat

In the mountains of Cordillera, mats are made from the rono reed. Not only is it used

in weaving mats but also as roofing material, fencing material and basketry. Due to its

unevenness, most people find this sleeping material uncomfortable. Because of this, a softer

variety made of bark strips is prepared despite the fact that it takes a longer time to assemble

such.20

Samar Mat

It is said that mat weaving in Basey, Samar has been alive even before the Spaniards

came. Banig from Samar is claimed to be the most widely used in the Philippines. It can be

encountered in the markets of Luzon and Mindanao. Samar mats are also known for their

designs highlighted by its attractive colors. Its raw material, Tikog (Fimbbristylis milliacea)

which is a grass that grows in swampy places, are woven into patterns of flower, tourist

19 Ibid.
20 Gacusana, ibid.
attractions such as San Juanico bridge, birds, fishes, legends or folktales. 21 There are also

“portrait mats” that require highly specialized skills. Banig is produced in plain natural tikog

color or multicolored ones. Further, aside from its motifs it is also notable for its affordable

prices.22

Process of Mat Weaving

Despite the differences in terms of color, material, layout and design the process in

making Banig is generally the same in each region.

The first method, locally known as pagsasa is the process where the long slender part

of the tikog is cut. It is followed by paghapnig and pagriras or “bundling”.23 In this step, the

leaves are stripped off of its edges, ridges and thorns. It is divided into two and each leaf is

separated. The piles are then separately bundled to prevent it from curling up upon drying.

The bundles are then sun-dried or air-dried in the method of pagbulad. This step gives its

brown luster and develops its durability by strengthening its fibers.

The hammering phase or pagpalpag is done by beating the leaves on a flat stone until

it becomes soft and pliable. The next step retains the softness of the leaves. Paglikid requires

each leaf to be tightly rolled. Next, pagbuntay straightens these rolled leaves. The leaves are

then shredded in a process known as paglukhad.

The following step, as a preparatory to the weaving proper, is known as pagkyupis.

Each strand is folded in half. Folded together in pairs, horizontally and vertically, it forms

four strands, the glossy brown color shown as the outer surface.24

21 Ibid.
22 Baradas, ibid.
23 "Banig: A Weave of Cultural Significance," Yahoo! News, May 07, 2012, , accessed December 27, 2017,
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/banig-weave-cultural-significance-100246252.html.
24 Ibid.
Pagtaytay structures the framework of the mat. It details the size, length and width

which is determined “by weaving at the sides forward, making the edge-line on both sides of

the mat known as sapay”.25 The remaining strands are folded on the sides to tightly lock it in

place. This process known as paghurip also means repairing the mat. The final stage,

paggutab, is when the excess strands are eliminated and cut.26

The Handicraft Industry and the Economy

Almost every family in the Philippines owns one or more handicraft products like

baskets, brooms, feather dusters, bamboo sofa set, cabinets and other furniture. Accessories

like earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other clothing apparel which young people today are

fond of wearing are also made from native products like beads, shells, seeds, and others. This

is a clear indication that our handicraft industry is enjoying the patronage of Filipinos

nationwide.

Today, many Filipinos are engaged in handicraft businesses. People acquired many

skills that enabled them to tinker with nature. They used the raw materials from trees, plants,

and other natural resources that are very abundant and turned them into simple, yet useful

tools. Over the years, Philippine handicrafts have evolved through innovative changes in

designs reinforced by exciting choices combination of indigenous materials showing an

individual’s creativity and lofty imagination. There is, however still ample room for

improvement, particularly in remote upland communities with little access to market

information, capital, and technologies for value addition. After some time, handicraft-making

has become a means of livelihood for them, especially now that many handicraft owners are

exporting their products to Japan, United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore,

and other countries around the world.

25 Ibid.
26 Ibid.
The handicraft industry has a long and rich tradition. The ethnicity is shown in the

handicraft which depicts the culture and norms of tribes and communities. Michelle Arts

explained that, “Many items now sold as handicrafts have traditionally been an important part

of the culture for some communities and tribes.” Aside from the artistry depicted on the

handicrafts, craftsmanship is the most important manifestation of the culture and ethnicity of

tribes. This is shown through the traditional process in producing the handicraft. UNESCO

recognizes that, “Traditional craftsmanship is perhaps the most tangible manifestation of

intangible cultural heritage.” And this shows that craftsmanship is important in expressing

one’s culture because once the traditional handicraft making ends, the culture of one’s tribe

might eventually disappear.

Organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions , the export

promotions arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry, Manila FAME featured a

wide range of handcrafted products including home furniture and furnishings, as well as arts

and crafts products made by the skilled hands of local designers. Through the prestigious

Katha Awards, significant platforms of Philippine products are recognized. In partnership

with the Bureau of Domestic Trade, CITEM presented design-forward arts and crafts

products from selected towns in the country, including the Yolanda-ravaged towns of the

provinces of Leyte and Samar, under OTOP Marketplace. With its goals to give an insight

into cultural narrative of the country’s weaving heritage and encourage exporters to raise their

design standards for Philippine export products, Philippine handicraft industry positioned the

country’s economy in the tropical market segment and pushed the country’s designs and its

unique sensibility that is better than the rest of Asia.

While government and big businesses both have an important role to play in the

economy’s growth and development, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) such as

the handicraft industry, are, undoubtedly, also crucial in driving the economy. After all,
according to DTI in 2015, they comprised 99.5 percent of all enterprises in the country. Based

in an article in The Philippine Star, Epi Fabonan III reported that:

MSMEs are vital in dispersing new industries to the countryside and


stimulating gainful employment.

The handicraft industry has been identified as a Micro Small-Medium Enterprise. Mat

weaving, handicrafts enterprises, producers of goods from recycled materials are considered

to be Micro Small-Medium Enterprise. The Thai News Service Group credited the Micro

Small-Medium Enterprises as “the lifeblood of the Philippine economy and are powerful

platforms for promotion of viable rural livelihood.” This means that the handicraft industry

has contributed in the Philippine economy thru exports and the promotion of livelihood

opportunities in rural areas of the country. In addition, among President Duterte’s directives

in terms of enterprise financing to MSMEs involves the creation of a lending “Pondo sa

Pagbabago at Pag-asenso” (P3), which aims to rival the five-six lending scheme that

unscrupulous lenders use to prey on MSMEs by giving them an alternative source of funding.

Thus, it drives the growth of the handicrafts sector in creating real change in the lives of its

fellow Filipinos.

A country like the Philippines where labor is abundant has much to gain from

entrepreneurial activities. MSMEs are more likely to be labor intensive. Thus, they generate

jobs in the locality where they are stimulated. In this sense, they bring about a more balanced

economic growth and equity in income distribution. Most people employed in the labor-

intensive handicrafts are women and youth which has been a solution for unemployment.

Noella Richard proposed that:

In many developing countries, the contribution made to the economy and the
export market through artisanry is increasing as more new craftspeople,
especially youth and women, are introduced into the sector as a solution to
both rural and urban unemployment.
Women and the youth have been the target for employment in the handicrafts sector to

alleviate the unprecedented increase in unemployment.

The income generated in handicraft businesses improved the quality of the lives of the

owners and their workers, their respective families, and contribute to our economy as well.

The Philippines, as the second largest world producer of handicrafts, continues to provide a

respectable contribution to foreign exchange earning of the country (US$71.9M in 2000)

while many handicraft items are also sold on the local market. According to Louella D.

Desiderio:

The industry achieved its 10-percent growth target last year as buyers
continued to purchase handicraft from the Philippines. Total handicraft exports
in 2017 were valued at $240 million.

Altogether, the sector is providing livelihood to more than 1M Filipinos. Although the

industry has experienced some setbacks over the last ten years, it has kept the respect of the

high-end markets around the world.

The handicrafts sector plays a major role in the economic development to the nation.

The multifaceted contribution of handicrafts impacts greatly in the development of the

country, region or people. Handicraft industry contributes immensely to the country’s foreign

exchequer through exports and employees millions of workers that helps in the great potential

in strengthening and economic development of the country.

Thus, the handicraft industry is one major contributor in the country’s economy. One

factor is the industry’s major contribution in the country’s export in which foreign countries

continue to purchase handicrafts in the country. This is because of the products’ uniqueness in

terms of artistry and of craftsmanship. And the last factor is the industry’s contributions in

employment which provides job opportunities to the people, especially women and youth,

because of an increasing demand of handicrafts in the global market. But the successes of the

industry are mainly due to the efforts and innovations of leaders in the business sector.
Handicrafts and Tourism

There is a mutual relationship between tourism and handicrafts because handicrafts

are one of many factors that influence tourism development and attraction that leads to the

growth of producing and selling handicrafts. As cultural souvenirs, handicrafts play a

significant role in tourism as many countries consider handicrafts as the main core of its

tourism development, showing originality by incorporating their national symbols into their

crafts.27 The Philippines is one of the world’s leading producers of handicrafts and locally

hand-made crafts are admired world-wide for their versatility, beauty and quality. Patronizing

local handicraft encourages tribal and cultural communities to produce more and it is in this

way that the Philippines preserves and promotes its cultural heritage.

Tourism is a vital element in promoting the Philippines’ economy. It has established

opportunities in different sectors of business and with tourism-related industries providing

and strengthening programs and policies that encourage the growth capability of tourism in

the country. The hospitality industry like hotels and lodging provides opportunities in the

construction industry. Restaurants create demands for farm products and agricultural produce

and retail establishments including souvenir shops in the area promote the handicraft

industry.28 This proves the correlation between tourism and tourism-related industries like

handicrafts as industries provide opportunities to other industries in order progress and

contribute to the economy, especially in the local community.

The government also plays an important role in sustaining the handicraft sector as key

to the country’s tourism. The Presidential Decree No. 279 entitled, “Creating the Design
27 The Role of Handicrafts in Tourism and Development. (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2017, from
http://irandoostan.com/role-handicrafts-tourism-development/
28 Oscar Lagman, “The Philippine Tourism Industry: Adjustments and Upgrading,” De La Salle University-Angelo
King Institute Working Paper Series (2008): 4,
http://www.dlsu.edu.ph/research/centers/cberd/pdf/papers/2008/WorkingPaper-2008-08-RPUSFTA-
Lagman.pdf.
Center Philippines to develop, promote and enhance the product design of all Philippine

products and handicraft.”, has the objective to create, develop, enhance, and maintain creative

research of all Philippine-manufactured products particularly cottage, small scale and

medium size industries products. The government’s intervention of the handicraft sector is to

promote and increase the export trade particularly of products which are made from

indigenous raw material to increase the foreign exchange earnings, broaden the base of
29
entrepreneurship, and boost tourism. Through the decree, the government is providing

subsidies and incentive programs to the handicraft sector to realize these goals.

Chapter III

METHODOLOGY

I. Research Design

Researchers will utilize the descriptive method of collecting data concerning

the historical, cultural, and economic aspects of the Banig-weaving industry in Basey,

Samar. Information with regards to the present financial condition and imposing

challenges to manufacturers and sellers will also be collected to be used in achieving

the purpose of the study. Both qualitative and quantitative data gathering approaches

29 P.D. No. 279, , accessed November 28, 2017,


http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1973/pd_279_1973.html
will be used in order to determine the current status of the industry and its prospective

performance as it thrives within an evolving contemporary market.

II. Locale

Basey, Samar is claimed to be the center of the Banig-weaving industry in

Region VIII. Being the most visited town of the weaving industry, the researchers

have chosen this place as the main source of data gathering.

III. Respondents

In order to cover the data regarding the cultural impacts of the Banig-weaving

industry, manufacturers, together with local residents and members of the Local

Government Unit of Basey will be included in the research. However, data concerning

the business itself will be obtained from the business entities themselves.

IV. Research Instruments

Information regarding cultural impacts of the weaving industry can best be

sought through a set of questions covering the matters on the history and evolution of

the industry since its inception. The questions formulated should be adequate to also

include the importance of the industry in establishing the cultural identity from which

the local residents may have been attached with.

Meanwhile the financial performances of the industry will be determined

through qualitative approach with data gathered most likely in the same manner.

V. Procedural Design

Personal interviews were conducted by the researchers with the workers, store

owners and Local Government Unit officials selected based on a random sampling

technique. Questionnaires were also distributed to the local residents of Basey to

collect further information.


VI. Statistical Treatment

The researchers will take use of all forms available in presenting the data

gathered and their analysis. Charts, graphs, tables, and images will be extensively

used throughout the research in order to present both textual and numerical data.

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