THERE ARE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES IN SILK PRODUCTION

THERE ARE HUGE OPPORTUNITIES IN SILK PRODUCTION

Silk is one of the world’s most ancient crafts, yet here in the Philippines, we have not really mastered it across the centuries. We take pride in our piña and abaca fabrics—and rightly so—but why not also supplement these native weaves with silk?

The numbers alone tell us how much we’re missing. Our country produces only about one metric ton of silk fabric each year, when our local demand is at least ten metric tons. That means we are producing barely 10 percent of what the market needs. The rest is filled by imports—sometimes smuggled—from China, Italy, and South Korea. Isn’t that a no-brainer opportunity for Filipino farmers and weavers?

Silk making is not rocket-science. Other countries with less natural wealth than ours have developed thriving sericulture industries. Surely our own people can learn to rear silkworms, harvest cocoons, and weave silk threads. The real issue is not capacity but will—both from government and from communities willing to take the leap.

I admit, I am personally biased toward silk, not only because of its beauty, but because it offers what I call a “3-in-1 livelihood potential.” From one mulberry tree, you get leaves for silkworms, berries for food and processing, and leaves again for mulberry tea, which is slowly finding a market among health-conscious consumers. That means multiple income streams from the same crop.

And here’s something even more interesting: mulberry trees can grow in the same soil where tobacco is cultivated. This opens an enormous opportunity for the Ilocos region and other tobacco-growing provinces. Why not help farmers diversify their income by growing mulberry alongside—or even in place of—tobacco? It could be part of a transition plan toward healthier, more sustainable crops.

My sense tells me we should also plant mulberry trees in areas where handloom weaving traditions already exist—among indigenous and Muslim communities that are keeping alive centuries-old textile crafts. Imagine if these communities could access locally produced silk instead of relying on expensive imports. The integration would be natural, and it could strengthen cultural preservation while creating livelihoods.

Of course, the question is: who should lead this effort? Should it be the Department of Agriculture (DA) because mulberry is a crop? Or the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and its Philippine Textile Research Institute (PTRI) because silk is a textile? What about the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which could promote it under its One Town, One Product (OTOP) program? And then there’s the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA), which already works with abaca and other natural fibers.

Somehow, I think the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) should also play a part. Since mulberry and tobacco can grow side by side, perhaps NTA can take the lead in introducing mulberry as an alternative or supplementary crop. In the long run, this could help farmers prepare for a future when tobacco demand may decline.

And let’s not forget the Design Center of the Philippines and the CITEM, both of which are already doing good work in supporting natural fibers and sustainable fabrics. Silk production is not just about farming; it’s about building a value chain—from leaf to loom, from weaver to market.

If you ask me, the supply and demand imbalance in Philippine silk is so ridiculous that it should already be attracting serious attention from policymakers. The domestic market is wide open. Whatever silk we produce will surely be consumed, either locally or abroad. And with proper branding, Filipino silk could even join the ranks of piña and abaca as part of our national identity.

The challenge now is to connect the dots: mulberry farming, silkworm rearing, weaving traditions, and market promotion. All the elements are there. What’s missing is coordination—and the political will to push silk production as a national livelihood strategy.

Silk has survived thousands of years as a fabric of elegance, resilience, and value. Isn’t it about time the Philippines gave it a more prominent place in our economy?

Ramon Ike V. Seneres, www.facebook.com/ike.seneres
iseneres@yahoo.com, 09088877282, senseneres.blogspot.com

12-03-2025 

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