DTI, Aklan furniture industries hold product design activity on bamboocraft

2010/08/20

DTI, Aklan furniture industries hold product design activity on bamboocraft

by Venus G. Villanueva

Kalibo, Aklan (20 August) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) here in partnership with the Aklan Chamber of Furniture Industries, Inc. (ACFI) and the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP) recently held a Product Design and consultancy cum Market Trends on Bamboocraft focused on engineered bamboo.

The activity was held at DTI-Aklan Provincial Office.

According to DTI-Aklan Provincial Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr., fifteen participants attended the Market Trends Seminar which included forecasts on product trends, consumer preferences, and worldwide tendencies to help Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) create and sell products that respond to shifting consumer lifestyles and market requirements.

Eleven MSMEs availed of the one-on-one consultation conducted by Ms. Rowe Requejo of PDDCP.

Sixty new designs were introduced during the activity.

Main objectives of the activity, according to DTI-Aklan, are to introduce and develop new product designs on bamboo gifts, housewares, furniture, and furnishings focused on engineered bamboo slats; update participants on the latest market trends on bamboo and other crafts; and help strengthen the bamboo industry in Aklan by producing better quality products and advancing the creativity of bamboo manufacturers.

Presently, Aklan's MSMEs are in the process of developing the prototypes utilizing engineered bamboo slats and traditional bamboo poles. The slats and poles will be combined with other materials like nito, wood, and metal for gifts, housewares and furniture and furnishings.

The prototypes will be featured during the Aklan Product showcase at SM City-Iloilo on November 15-21 and in other marketing events organized or assisted by DTI-Aklan.

This early, the Dela Cruz House of Piņa, manufacturer of nitocraft, made initial arrangements with C&A Alternative Designs, one of the nodes /processors of engineered bamboo slats in Kalibo on the possibility of combining e-bamboo slats with nito for its existing market in Manila and possible market in the U.S.

Engineered bamboo has caught the attention of Aklanons recently when the DTI introduced this through an Advocacy Program brought to Aklan municipalities as part of the MSME Week celebration.

Almost all municipalities in Aklan produce bamboos. (DTI/PIA)

Cabatuan.com - Kasimanwa.com - Diosdado Cadena Jr.