The Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOST-CAR) and DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI), together with local partners, vowed to strengthen the country’s sericulture industry.
The DOST-CAR, DOST-PTRI, in partnership with Bayo Company, Kapangan local government unit (LGU) and Bayo Manila Foundation Inc., and Cordillera Hydro-Electric Company (COHECO), initiated a forum and conducted a field visit to the site of the ongoing sericulture project in CAR on Dec. 2.
DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña said the activities were aimed at revitalizing the local sericulture industry.
The ongoing sericulture project is part of the DOST’s Community Empowerment thru Science and Technology (CEST) program in the municipality of Kapangan.
The DOST chief said the personnel from the DOST-CAR, Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC)-Benguet, PTRI, Bayo Company, LGU Kapangan and Bayo, and COHECO facilitated the sorting of cocoon, gathering of data, and monitoring for the ongoing sericulture project.
“After sorting, Bayo directly purchased the yield of locally harvested fresh cocoons for processing to silk threads and fabric,” de la Peña said.
This is already the second batch of harvest since the project's inception earlier this year, the DOST noted.
“The project hopes to open the town’s silkworm farmers to the market at large.”