Villar vows support for La Union's silk industry

Sen. Cynthia Villar has pledged support for the silk industry in La Union Province.

Villar, chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, stressed the need to support the industry given the shortage in the supply of native fabric in the country.

The Nacionalista Party Senator also noted that there are wide areas cultivating mulberry leaf in La Union, which is the exclusive food for silkworms. These silkworms produce cocoons that yield fine silk for producing fabric of very good quality.

If reelected to another term in the Senate, Villar said she intends to boost the silk industry in the province.

"Alam nyo nakakalungkot po na ang ating mga native fabric ay kulang na kulang, kaya makakaasa ang ating mga taga-La Union na susuportahan natin ang kanilang silk fabric industry, kasi luma na yata ang kanilang mga makina, pero nabigyan na natin yan ng pondo, recently, para mag improve pa," Villar said.

Silkworm production, aside from being a potent income-generating activity, is also regarded as environmentally-friendly. Mulberry trees absorb air pollutants while silkworm wastes and residues can be converted into organic fertilizer for conventional farming.