Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed and agreement to fund the upcoming Negros Silk Industry Support Project in the province of Negros Occidental in the Western Visayas region of Philippines.
Negros Occidental is a major silk producing region in Philippines and the new agreement has given further boost to it.
Through the Support Project, JICA will be reaching out to more Negrenses to enable them to produce better quality cocoons and silk.
Under the agreement, JICA will be providing P15 million for the Support Project over a three-year period. This will provide an opportunity to low-income farming communities in Negros Occidental to earn additional income for livelihood.
In 2000, JICA had supported OISCA International, when it set up an integrated system in Negros, which handled the entire process from production of silkworm eggs to weaving of silk fabric.