REGIONAL ECONOMIC SITUATIONER Western ... - NEDA-RDC VI

The industry has strong support from the city of Bago and the province of
Negros Occidental. The Governor of Negros Occidental gave OISCA a P3 million
soft loan for silkworm farmers. An earlier loan of P7 million from JICA enabled
OISCA to expand assistance from 50 to 120 farmers. With the continuous
support of the LGU and the right attitude of the farmers, the industry could really
improve the lives of silkworm farmers.
Sericulture should be promoted as a priority industry in the region. A JICA
study found that OISCA silk could compete with Japanese silk in Japan market.
Importing silk worm eggs from Japan would facilitate expansion of local silk
production possibilities.
2. Recommendations
The following policy recommendations were derived during key
informants’ interviews about the national economy and as a follow through of
issues on the development of potential/unique commodities/industries in the
region for this quarter.
Generally, it is recommended that government financial and technical
support should be focused more into ventures that promote high value
agriculture and agriculture-based products for domestic and foreign markets.
Political problems should not serve as hindrance to the development of national
or local economies. Hence, it should not be the main focus of governance.
Region VI has distinct advantages with the commodities/industries
featured in this report. Silk could be produced anywhere in the country, but
OISCA had established the local silkworm breeding technology in Bago City
producing quality silk that could even be exported to Japan. The expansion of
this venture into adjacent areas in Negros Occidental should be given priority
over other areas. In support of the sericulture industry, the DA and DTI may look
into liberalization of silkworm breeders trading especially between the Philippines
and Japan.
Muscovado maybe produced in any sugarmill across the country today,
but the sugar base in Antique has unique qualities that pull traders toward the
province. The Sugar Regulatory Agency is currently stationed in Bacolod City
which is far away from Laua-an where most muscovado mills are located.
Besides financial and marketing support, Antique needs technicians to improve
its sugar output from the cane to muscovado with a quality that is specially
acceptable in the international markets.
Local weaving materials are abundant in the region and their potentials
should be fully harnessed in fashion, handicrafts and furniture industries. A set of
clear and attractive investment incentives package by local governments for the
private sector could readily give impetus for these ventures. Government support
should be continued and intensified in the fields of technology, marketing and
enterprise development. Trade liberalization should facilitate lowering of input
costs in these industries while at the same time strengthening the country’s
position in the world market for the products.
The region, particularly Roxas City has a clear comparative advantage on
angel wings production. With SEAFDEC’s presence in the region, we have a
competitive advantage in abalone production. These two products could make
the economy shine even with just local efforts, especially if government and
business sectors put their heads and resources together on this matter.
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