The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) recently inaugurated its first Silk Innovation Hub in Mindanao, situated in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. 

The Hub, located at the PTRI-Technology Center Misamis Oriental, has both the capability and machinery to process silk from cocoons, raw silk, to thrown silk yarn. It has the capacity to produce 7 kg of raw silk and 20 kg of thrown silk per respective 8-hour operation. Silk outputs from the hubs in Northern Mindanao, CAR, and Western Visayas regions are DOST-PTRI's initial offerings towards attaining Philippine Silk sufficiency. 

The Launch was honored by the presence of Senator Nancy Binay, a steadfast advocate of Philippine textiles. In 2018, the Senator became instrumental in funding and implementing the Philippine Silk Road Program through S&T, which allowed DOST-PTRI to expand its technological support on silkworm germplasm resources, silk cocoon production, processing, and services for the benefit of the Philippine silk industry stakeholders. 

Establishing the Silk Innovation Hubs in strategic regions in the Country is an innovative solution that provides regional capabilities and support to the Philippine Silk value chain players. The Silk Innovation Hub in Misamis Oriental strengthens the positioning of the Philippine Silk sector with a focal site of all DOST-PTRI's R&D, innovation, technology generation, and production of Philippine Silk. 

The launching of the Silk Innovation Hub in Misamis Oriental is part of the recently concluded 5th Philippine Silk Summit.