Silk Industry thriving in MisOr
by Steph Berganio
SILK INDUSTRY in Misamis Oriental is expected to create enormous opportunities in the future market as DOST-10- Philippine Textile Research and Institute (PTRI) located in Villanueva Misamis Oriental after so many years now acquired a P10 million worth of Silk Filature Facility from the National Government under Duterte Administration.
The fully equipped machineries purchased from India is the only one in Misamis Oriental that can produce 7 kilos of silk everyday.
The Presidential fashion consultant and well known Kagayanon fashion designer, Ms. Mimi Pimentel recalls that she visit once at PTRI and wanted to help weavers especially that silk is very in demand to clients in national and international fashion industry.
‘Nung malaman ko na medyo kulang sila ng support, yung mga weavers kulang ng mga machineries. Luckily, nakalapit ako kay Presidente prenisent ko yung project sa kanya. Sabi ko, gusto ko tulungan yong mga weavers, yung weaving industry. Good thing, tumulong naman si Presidente sa atin, with the help of RD May of DOT-10 and PTRI, narealized naman yung request ko to purchase a machine,” Pimentel said.
She told NM Daily Source that one kilo of silk produce from cocoons can made one barong tagalog that is worth P10,000 to P15,000.
Pimentel also design the ‘barong tagalog’ wore by President Duterte during his recent State of the Nation Address (SONA).
On the other hand, Department of Tourism Region 10 Regional Director Elaine May Unchuan said that they considered PTRI as one of tourism circuit in Northern Mindanao.
She encouraged farmers especially in high elevated area or hinterland to plant mulberry to continuously feed the silkworm.
“PTRI has been working hard to produce that, medyo mahal man gud ni nga machine unya kinahanglan pod nga naa tay ipaproduce nga silk sa ilaha so dugangan pa pod nato ang farm sa mulberry, we are encouraging farmers through DA nga ma-encourage og tanom sa mulberry.,” said Unchuan.
She wants also to coordinate with PTRI so that anyone can visit soon the facility including the 8 hectare mulberry farm through educational and farm tour.
Jona May G. Basit, Science Research Specialist I of PTRI also shares that they are expecting more produced silk from their facility because it was aged that this fully equipped machineries now came into reality and vey timely since this year is the celebration of their 55th Anniversary of PTRI and 3rd Philippine Silk summit 2022 .
Giving capital to farmers and training to weavers are one of those plans and promise of former Chief of Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo during his presence yesterday’s launching of Silk Filature Facility.
