Published on 03 April 2013
Written by JAMES KONSTANTIN GALVEZ REPORTER
The Philippines is looking forward to the weaving of a long-term strategy for expanding silk production that would provide local producers better access to assistance and niche markets, including the European fashion industry.
Cecilia Gloria Soriano, Fiber Industry Development Authority (FIDA) administrator, said that the agency expects to complete this year the silk roadmap to help the industry propagate silk production to other areas in the country, as well as capture the gap in the worldwide supply of silk.
“This month, we hope to meet with representatives of the Department of Trade and Industry, and the private sector to discuss possible incentives to those who want to invest in silk-weaving industry and put up their own textile mills,” Soriano told reporters.
The FIDA chief added that they expect to compete by end of this month the final proposal for the roadmap to be submitted to the Department of Agriculture for approval.
She said that the short-term approach, or from 2014 to 2017, would focus on the development of more silkworm nurseries and expansion of areas planted to mulberry, the only food source for silkworms.
During the first phase of the roadmap’s implementation, FIDA wants to revise the interest and capacity of the farmers through better funding, infrastructure development and provision of farm equipment essential to rearing silkworms.
For the long term, covering 2018 to 2027, FIDA hopes to establish silk-weaving facilities that would be linked to funding and marketing from the private sector.
“We want to encourage entrepreneurs to put up a textile mill, with an assurance that there is a ready market both here and abroad,” Soriano said.
“But we also have to assure them that we can sustain the production side by putting up more sericulture sites across the country before we invest in to the actual silk-weaving production,” she added.
At present, China controls majority of global silk yarn and textile supply. But Soriano said that there is a big gap in the supply of silk, particularly in Europe, which the Philippines hopes to capture.
“Right now, there’s a big demand for silk, which China failed to fill up. We are now talking to international clients, so there’s an assured market for our silk-weavers,” she said.
The Philippines is also eyeing the United States and Japan for possible shipment of silk textile, Soriano said.
FIDA also wants to take advantage of Republic Act 9242, or the law prescribing the use of the Philippine tropical fabrics for uniforms of public officials and employees.
“We have a very big market here. In government offices alone, we can’t meet the requirement for our uniforms,” Soriano stressed.
“However, we still have a long way before we can really establish a sustainable production of silk. That will have to take some time . . . we have to be patient. It is a very slow process,” Soriano said.
Japanese support
FIDA is currently working with Japan-based Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) for expansion of areas dedicated to propagation of silkworm and mulberry production.
To date, the OISCA sericulture project in Negros Occidental remained the top producer of silk in the country. The project started in 1999 with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency to help improve the living conditions of the people of island province.
In 2012, OISCA’s fresh cocoon production from 12 sericulture areas in Negros reached 9,101 kilograms, up from the previous year’s 8,123 kgs.
Based on FIDA’s record, dried cocoon production in the country reached 4,617 kgs in 2012, while raw silk production reached 89 kgs
