Directory_and_Chronicle_1941 — Page 1436

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THE PHILIPPINES

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made from the pineapple fibre, the "jusi" made from imported gummed spun silk fibres in threads mixed with mercerized cotton or the native abaca, piña and maguey fibres, and the "Abel Iloco" or Ilocano cloth manufactured in the Ilocos provinces from both native and imported cotton threads. Phillippine hand-made embroideries are of cotton and linen; no silk is used. The mate- rials chiefly used in the making of Philippine embroideries are nainsooks, batiste, voile, georgette, crepe de chine and net-cotton. These materials are imported from the United States. The principal articles of embroideries made are lingerie, children's clothes, handkerchiefs, table cloths and underwear of various classes, which are for the most part prepared according to orders received from the United States. The work done is of a very good grade and brings good prices. On account of the abundance of suitable local materials for hat-making and the excellent prices offered for Philippine hats, the manu- facture of hats is a profitable industry. Philippine hats are made from native inaterials such as bamboo, buntal, buri, sabutan and pandan.

The other industries of the country worth mentioning include shipbuild- ing, foundries and machine shops, the making of shoes and slippers, desiccated cocoanut, cement, refined sugar, pearl buttons, cutch, canned pineapple, wooden and wicker furniture, soap, vegetable lard, margarine, butter, starch, paint, leather, toilet articles and other pharmaceutical preparations, matches,, salt and pots, besides the aerated water and mineral water factories. Among the poten- tial industries are paper making, gold and chromite mining, glass, perfume, alcohol distilleries and beer, wine and liquor factories, caustic soda, rug and coir mat industries.

THE LABOUR MOVEMENT

The economic development of the Philippines has brought in its train the formation of many trade unions, organizations and mutual benefit societies intended for the protection and advancement of labour's interests and for mutual help. The first labour organization established in the Philippines was "Union Obrera Democratica" (Democratic Labour Union) on February 2nd, 1902, in the city of Manila. Subsequently, the formation of labour organiza- tions was given greater impetus as the workers were stimulated by the success attained in dealing collectively with their employers in their demand for higher wages and better working conditions, until at the end of 1937 a total of 65 such organizations with 77 branches throughout the Philippines and a paid mem- bership of 31,363 were in existence in the Archipelago, the majority of them being located in the city of Manila. In the Philippines there are three national labour organizations controlling the majority of trade unions and other organizations, viz., Congreso Obrero de Filipinas (Labour Congress of the Philippines), Federacion del Trabajo de Filipinas (Federation of Labour of the Philippines) and the National Confederation of Tenants and Farm Labourers of the Philippines.

TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS

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The bulk of overseas shipments are made from the port of Manila, although considerable business is handled, direct, through Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga, and Davao, which, with Jolo and Legaspi, are the other ports of entry. While all of the open ports have good harbours, only Manila, Cebu, Legaspi, Davao and Iloilo have wharfage for deep-draft vessels. Zamboanga can accommodate vessels drawing up to 28 feet; and Jolo has a small wharf affording the same depth. Nearly a thousand vessels are now operated in the coastwise trade.

Manila, the capital and chief port of the Philippines is on the largest bay in the Orient. The harbour at the entrance of this bay is landlocked. The anchorage space for steamers is protected by a semi-circular breakwater within, which is a basin large enough to accommodate all vessels of the size of the "Empress" liners... Regular steamship lines are maintained between Manila and Hongkong, China and Japan Ports, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, New York, Australian and European ports.

There are at present 1,306 kilometres of railroad car-lines in the Philippines. They are owned by two companies-the Manila Railroad Company, which is