Traditional cotton spinning and coconut waste recycling technologies from Oriental Mindoro are taking center stage at a national innovation expo, showcasing how indigenous communities are driving sustainable development in the country.

The GICE Expo 2024 in Davao City features grassroots innovations from across the country’s 17 regions.

The Hanunuo Mangyan tribe of Mansalay presented their “Burungan,” a handcrafted cotton spinner made from local materials, at the 2024 Grassroots Innovation and Circular Economy (GICE) Expo.

The device helps preserve centuries-old weaving traditions by processing wild cotton into yarn for traditional garments like the “ramit.”

“This technology ensures our ancestral weaving practices continue while providing livelihoods for our community,” said a Mangyan weaver, speaking through an interpreter.

Alongside the Burungan, local innovators unveiled a Coco Coir Binding and Twining Machine that transforms discarded coconut husks into marketable materials, addressing agricultural waste while creating new economic opportunities.

“These innovations demonstrate how traditional knowledge and modern sustainability needs can work together,” DOST said. “They represent a bridge between preserving cultural heritage and advancing the circular economy.”