Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has called for more state support for the country’s shoe industry amid the constant competition with foreign footwear products. 

Pimentel made the call as he called for a revival of the struggling Marikina shoe industry, that has long struggled against cheap foreign imports, limited modernization and lack of financial aid.

“Marikina was once the backbone of the country’s shoe industry. Ngayon, nalulunod sila sa kompetisyon mula sa mga dayuhang produkto (Now they are drowning in the competition with foreign products),” said Pimentel, who is running for mayor of Marikina in the upcoming elections. 

The senator noted that the decline of the Marikina shoe industry has resulted in job losses and a diminished sense of local pride. 

At most, he said, the government should increase funding for Marikina’s shoe industry, provide incentives for local manufacturers, and strengthen anti-smuggling measures to prevent the influx of low-cost imported footwear that undermines Filipino-made products.

“If we want to revive this sector, we must not only encourage innovation but also ensure that our local shoemakers have the resources, funding, and market support to compete,” the senator said.

Nevertheless, he lauded the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) for its recent call for local designers to develop innovative Filipino footwear, emphasizing the initiative’s potential to revive the Marikina shoe industry.

The DOST-PTRI’s 10th Filipino Footwear Design Competition, launched as part of Philippine Tropical Fabrics Month, aims to promote sustainability and Filipino identity in footwear through the use of indigenous materials and creative storytelling. 

The initiative also aligns with the agency’s ongoing Shoes and Footwear Accessories R&D Towards Omnibus Solutions (SAFATOS) program, which integrates digital technology and sustainable textile innovations into local shoe manufacturing.

Pimentel said he already has outlined a plan to support local shoemakers through training programs focused on modern techniques, access to better materials, and assistance in marketing and branding to help them compete effectively in the global market.

He said he is committed to reviving the sector, recognizing its importance to Marikina’s identity and economy.

“Pag sinabi mong Marikina, ‘Sapatos.’ So bubuhayin po namin ‘yan kasi sayang lamang na eh—pagdating sa larangan ng sapatos, lamang na ang Marikina (When you say Marikina, you think of shoes. So we will revive that because when it comes to shoemaking, Marikina is known for it). Saka (it is) something to be proud of,” Pimentel stated.