Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has filed a bill seeking to establish modern shoe manufacturing hubs across the country, with Marikina City—dubbed the Shoe Capital of the Philippines—hosting the pilot facility.
Pimentel, who is seeking a congressional seat as Marikina’s first district representative, said Senate Bill No. 2994, or “An Act Strengthening the Philippine Shoe Industry Providing Incentives to Local Manufacturers and For Other Purposes,” aims to revive the Philippine shoe industry and restore its prominence.
Under the proposed measure, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in coordination with local government units (LGUs), will be tasked to identify strategic locations nationwide for the establishment of these hubs.
“This bill seeks to revitalize the Philippine shoe industry by instituting a comprehensive framework to enhance its competitiveness in both domestic and international markets,” Pimentel explained in his explanatory note on the bill.
“The goal is to bolster the country’s footwear industry by supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through access to shared service facilities and modern infrastructure,” said Pimentel, who is running for congressman of Marikina’s first congressional district.
The senator noted that the country’s once-vibrant footwear sector has struggled in recent decades due to modernization gaps, foreign competition, and minimal state support.
“The Philippine shoe industry, once a vibrant and globally-recognized sector, has suffered a significant decline over the past decades,” he lamented.
Under the bill, the DTI would be tasked to formulate a Shoe Industry Development Program, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The said program will focus on research and development in shoe design and production technologies, skills training and certification, promotion of local brands in both domestic and international markets, and the implementation of quality assurance and standardization systems.
Likewise, the bill provides for various incentives to local shoe manufacturers, which include subsidies and grants for capital investments, machinery upgrades, and R&D activities.
According to Pimentel, the bill will pave the way for local manufacturers to have preferential access to low-interest loans through government financial institutions.
They will also benefit from marketing support such as participation in fairs and government-run retail channels.
SB No. 2994 will also mandate government agencies to procure locally-made shoes, supporting domestic producers. A nationwide “Buy Local, Wear Local” campaign will also be implemented under the Consumer Awareness Program to promote Filipino-made footwear and encourage public support.
The bill also seeks the creation of a Shoe Industry Development Fund (SIDF), which will be sourced from 100 percent of tariffs and duties collected on imported shoes. The SIDF will ensure long-term sustainability of all programs and initiatives under the proposed law and will remain in effect for 10 years.
“Given the Filipinos’ resilience, hard work and creativity, there remains strong potential to reclaim the country’s foothold in the shoe industry,” Pimentel stressed.