Mt. Province imposes ban on machine-made replicas of Cordilleran woven fabric

Bontoc, Mountain Province - The provincial government of Mt. Province has banned  the manufacturing, distribution, and selling of machine-made replicas of Cordillera indigenous woven materials within the province.

The ban is now being implemented through the passage of Provincial Ordinance No. 573 by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on June 2, 2025 and  signed by Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan Jr.

The said move was done to safeguard the weaving tradition and livelihood of local weavers. The provincial government said this was necessary t0 uphold the integrity of traditional weaving as a long regarded identity, history, and livelihood of the Cordillerans.

Article 1, Section 2 of the Ordinance, states that indigenous weaving is a cultural practice that must be protected as it represents the province’s heritage and the artistry of its people.

“...it is the duty of the local government to preserve the cultural heritage of the province which includes the protection and preservation of indigenous  weaving which has been an essential part of the Cordillera Indigenous Peoples way of life, serving both as means of cultural expression and becoming part of our history and a vital source of livelihood toward this end, the Provincial Government shall ensure to safeguard the indigenous weaving heritage of the cordillera by the prohibition of the production and distribution of machine- make copies of indigenous weaving,” the ordinance reads.

The ordinance recognizes indigenous weaving as a manual, and non-mechanized method using traditional looms.

Under the ordinance, violators will receive a reprimand and a written notice to explain why their violation, along with this is the confiscation of machine-made replicas being sold. Third-time offender will result in closure of the business and revocation of business permit.

The ordinance's provisions, according to the local law, shall apply to all souvenir shops, department/garment stores, and online selling sites in Mountain Province.

 *This article is written by an intern of Kalinga State University as part of their on the job training at the Guru Press Cordillera.