THE Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFIDA) said it will sign today a silk sourcing agreement with a Japanese environmental development NGO, the Organization for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA).
According to PhilFIDA Executive Director Kennedy T. Costales, the deal will be funded by Japan’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“They agreed that we can go ahead with the processing of the cocoons into raw silk in PhilFIDA’s Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet Sericulture facility and they will buy all the raw silk produced,” Mr. Costales said in a mobile message.
“We hope to sign the memorandum of agreement (MoA) on Friday,” he said, noting that some of the terms are being adjusted to increase the benefits for silk farmers.
In a statement, Mr. Costales said: “We have to go the extra mile in helping our farmers and their respective families by producing the raw silk themselves and by fully utilizing the Filature, Cocoon Dryer and Raw Silk Production facilities of PhilFIDA located in Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet. The operating costs, which include labor, power and water bills, maintenance, etc. will just be deducted from the raw silk proceeds,” Mr. Costales said.
According to Mr. Costales, the aim of the program is to reduce the burden on farmers in producing silk, and double their income via entrepreneurship or the organization of cooperatives. — Reicelene Joy N. Ignacio
