Yukihiro Ishibashi discusses future projects with provincial government agencies during the project monitoring visit at the sericulture site in Sitio Saguing, Brgy. Patag, Opol, Misamis Oriental last March 09, 2021 (Photo courtesy of DOST-STII)
Japanese national, Yukihiro Ishibashi, Resident Representative of the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) International, gladly expressed his satisfaction with the silkworm or sericulture rearing houses in Misamis Oriental. He recently visited two sericulture project sites in Sitio Saguing, Barangay Patag in the Municipality of Opol and Barangay Balubal in Cagayan de Oro City, both in Misamis Oriental.
OISCA is an international organization based in Japan committed and dedicated to promoting international cooperation. One of its programs is on sericulture industry development in the Philippines. In fact, the organization funded the construction of a silkworm rearing house in Barangay Patag.
Misamis Oriental is one of the seven beneficiary provinces for skills training and other assistance for sericulture operations. The other provinces include Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Aklan, Iloilo, Antique, and Negros Occidental. The aim is to develop model sericulture farmers with abilities to produce high-quality cocoons at a faster pace.
To further support the initiative, the Department of Science and Technology-Misamis Oriental (DOST-MOR) sourced funds from OISCA worth Php 145,000 for the silkworm rearing house. The agency then linked the farmers to the Philippine Textile Research Institute – Technology Center in Misamis Oriental (PTRI-TCMO) for training and technical assistance in silk cocoon production.
Four members of the Sitio Saguing Community Farmers Association (SSCFA) in CNQ Farms have just completed a 3-day hands-on training on sericulture at the PTRI-TCMO, Villanueva, Misamis Oriental last 5-7 May 2021. Evaluators of the rearing house in Barangay Patag considered the facility to be suitable for silkworm rearing and functional for silk cocoon production.
Meanwhile, the sericulture project in Barangay Balubal was made possible by the DOST Local Grants-In-Aid (LGIA) program in cooperation with the Local Government Unit of Cagayan de Oro City through the City Housing and Urban Development Department (CHUDD). As a result, the project’s beneficiaries were successful in their first and second silk cocoon harvest last 14 February and 28 April of this year, respectively.
Ishibashi expressed his great appreciation for the building of the rearing houses. He further said that the setup was very ideal considering the distance between the rearing house and the mulberry field of the sericulture site in Barangay Balubal.
“They are very cooperative with our activities in OISCA so I’m very happy and satisfied with the performance of the staff of the government, at the same time [the] cooperation of the community beneficiaries in Misamis Oriental,” Ishibashi said as he expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the government agencies involved in the implementation of the sericulture projects.
Ishibashi vouched that OISCA will continue to support the development of the silk industry in the province and help communities in their livelihood.