THE Japanese government has earmarked USD233,838 or approximately P12.9 million in grants that would help the country give the silk farming tradition in the Philippines a much needed shot in the arm.

The Japanese Embassy in Manila said that one of the two grant contracts that they signed is expected to support the project that aims to expand the sericulture in the provinces of Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, and Misamis Oriental.

Likewise the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement International said that the program is in collaboration with the Philippine Textile Research Institute.

The funding will cover the construction of a silkworm farm and mulberry plantation, as well as the installation of greenhouses and solar panel systems.

Meanwhile, they will continue to support the strengthening of stakeholder capacity through training programs in both the Philippines and Japan, targeting representatives from each project site, the embassy said.

The said grant was formally signed by Embassy Charges d'Affaires a.i. Kenichi Matsuda on March 13.