On March 2, 2023, Mr. Yukihiro Ishibashi, a representative of the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) Japan, and DOST Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) representatives visited Mindanao State University at Naawan.

 OISCA is a Japanese Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) committed to fostering worldwide collaboration via industrial participation, spiritual foundation, and cultural involvement, with a goal to serve mankind through environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainable development. The Organization promotes and executes initiatives and programs in capacity development, particularly for young people, environmental education, rural development, and forest and marine resource protection and restoration.

OISCA activities in the Philippines began with the admission of Filipino agricultural trainees in 1963 and have since thrived. The purpose of the NGO’s visit is to look for a collaborator on their Sericulture project.  This project cultivates mulberry trees and rears silkworms on mulberry leaves to produce silk. The Philippine Textile Research Institute is expanding their Sericulture program in the Western part of Misamis Oriental and the objective of the meeting is to show to Mr. Ishibasi the area and possible People's Organization that will become the recipient of the project. MSU at Naawan will then provide technical support on the proposed project.

The Philippine Textile Research Institute will buy the cocoon which is the source of the textile and a product from silkworm that is being fed by the mulberry plant.