CEBU CITY – As the world economy starts to show signs of recovery from the global financial crisis, the US Government is pushing to bring its textile industry back on its feet and is counting on the Philippine Congress for support.

House Committee on Economic Affairs Chairman Red Durano (Cebu, 5th district) bared this development last Friday, indicating that this was one of the results of the trip to the United States by the delegation accompanying President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, which included various members of the Lower House.

He said the US Congress now awaits passage into law of H.R. 3039, or the Save Our Industries Act of 2009 that seeks, among others, to revive the US textile industry, and eventually bring in more raw materials from the US for manufacture in the Philippines.

Durano, who was one of two Cebuano lawmakers who joined the trip to meet with their US counterparts, said during the meeting with US solons from both the Democratic and Republican parties, the latter presented pending bills that would impact the Philippine economy, one of which is said H.R. 3039.

The US Bill is part of President Barrack Obama’s stimulus package aimed to revived US economic recovery.

“The US government is optimistic that once the bill is enacted into law, it will be mutually beneficial for both the US and the Philippines,” Durano told reporters in an interview. “I think what they are looking for in return is a similar local bill that will include allocation for incentives.”

This early, Durano said Congress has already considered drafting a counterpart bill for H.R.3039.

Once this plan materializes, the Philippine garment industry is seen to take major leaps in terms of growth and job generation.

Durano said Congress may introduce legislative measures designed to improve incentives given to US-based companies exporting raw materials for textiles to the Philippines, having such materials locally manufactured here, and exported back to the US duty-free.

“But until the H.R. 3039 becomes a law, can we determine what specific support our own Congress will give that will be of benefit to both our economy and the United States’,” he clarified.

Still, the Cebu solon expressed optimism that H.R. 3039 will make the Philippines a more competitive manufacturing destination for US textile companies in terms of producing high-end, quality products.

Earlier, Samson Tiu, founding member of the Cebu Garments Industries Association said while a lot of garment manufacturing firms in Cebu have shuttered up, moving their plants to China, the province has managed to sustain its niche as a site for high-end garment manufacturing firms.