Negros Occidental, with the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement-Bago Training Center, continues to be the leading silk producer in the Philippines, contributing 83 percent to the country's total silk production, a report from the Capitol shows.

From April 2004 to March 2005 alone, OISCA-Bago produced about 20 tons of cocoons that were made into 2.8 tons of silk.

The Bago sericulture project was boosted last month when the OISCA Ibaraki in Japan brought to Bago the P3-million silk machine that can detect diseases of silkworms. OISCA-BTC no longer imports silkworm eggs, and it has also the potential to supply silk to other countries.

To help sustain silk production growth in Negros Occidental, the provincial government in 2005 funded the construction of the Negros Silk Center, including the weaving center, amounting to P1.2 million.

For the expansion of the sericulture project, it also allocated P1 million, and the project benefited 101 marginal farmers.

Farmers also received assistance in the form of fertilizers, farm tools, supplies for the establishment of mulberry plantations, and materials for the construction of silkworm rearing houses.

Capitol figures show that 34 percent of the assisted farmers have already produced cocoons and earned a monthly average income of P2,790.

Under the expansion project, a nursery for silkworm eggs and a plant nursery were also set up at Sitios Napatulan and Cabagtasan in Brgy. Codcod, San Carlos City.*NLG

back to top