BY LEANDER C. DOMINGO
BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (August 4)—London-based firm FCF Minerals Corp. is partnering with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to provide assistance to loom weavers of Quezon town.
This after DTI Region 2 Director Leah Pulido-Ocampo visited the town of Quezon in Nueva Vizcaya and met with officials of the FCF Minerals in Runruno village where the mining firm conducts its operation.
According to DTI – Nueva Vizcaya chief Marietta Salviejo said Ocampo’s meeting with the mine firm officials led by its Country Manager James Carmichael tackled the DTI’s program areas to help loom weavers of Barangay Runruno in Quezon town in collaboration with FCF Minerals.
Salviejo said the DTI will be conducting a benchmarking activity for the weavers of the Runruno Indigenous Peoples Organization (RIPO) Loom Weavers Association (LWA).
She said this will be done through an on-site visitation at the loom weaving areas/facilities of the Santos Women’s Weavers Association and Indigenous Enabel Craft in Barangay Santos, Quezon town in Isabela province.
“This activity aims to develop the skills of this group of weavers and will further deepen their interest and passion in loom weaving,” Salviejo said.
In 2015, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples helped organized the RIPO-LWA and with the assistance of FCF Minerals Corporation, RIPO-LWA is now engaged in a loom weaving venture called the Abel Ripo Weaving Project.
With assistance from FCF, Carmichael said the Abel Ripo Weaving Project aims to preserve the culture and tradition of five tribes in their area of operation including the Kalanguya, Kankana-ey, Ibaloi, Tuwali and Ayangan.
The loom weavers’ products consist of locally woven fabrics using a traditional back strap loom weaving technique.