The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Intellectual Property of Korea (MOIP), the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA), and the Orgullo Kan Bikol Association (OKB) to strengthen the Bicol region’s elemi oil industry through improved extraction technology and IP-backed branding.
The agreement formalizes a year-long collaboration that developed and deployed a customized elemi oil extraction system for the OKB community under the “2025 IP Sharing Project: Development of Appropriate Technology for Elemi Oil Extraction and Related Brands in Bicol,” led by MOIP and KIPA.
Under the project, a specialized extraction facility was installed to address long-standing issues faced by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including low yields, labor-intensive processes, and safety risks linked to improvised distillation methods.
The new system allows safer and more efficient processing and supports the establishment of a shared production facility for local producers.
Running from January to December 2025, the initiative covers field research, equipment design and installation, training programs, and a year-end demonstration of results.
The newly signed MOU extends the partnership beyond the pilot phase, providing for sustained capacity building in equipment use, sustainable harvesting practices, and branding aligned with strong intellectual property protection.
MOIP and KIPA will continue to lead research, design, and development of the extraction technology and related brands.
IPOPHL, through its Bureau of Trademarks, will serve as local project manager, overseeing field activities, coordination, monitoring, and awareness campaigns. OKB, as the project beneficiary, will handle site preparation, operations, safety, feedback, and community engagement.
IPOPHL acting director general Nathaniel S. Arevalo said the partnership goes beyond formal cooperation.
“It is a collective affirmation that innovation, when guided by purpose, can uplift communities, and that intellectual property, when made accessible, can empower local industries,” he said during the virtual signing ceremony on December 4, 2025.
OKB Association president Erika O. Pereña said the MOU signals the group’s readiness to maximize the new technology and strengthen branding efforts.
She added that the project marks a milestone not only for the pili and elemi sector but for the broader Bicol region, positioning local MSMEs as globally competitive producers and innovators.
KIPA vice president Dong Wan Kim expressed optimism that the technology and brand developed through the project would deliver tangible benefits to the local economy and open opportunities in international markets.
The initiative traces its roots to a proposal developed in 2022 by OKB and IPOPHL’s Bureau of Trademarks, which was accepted by KIPA in 2023 for implementation in the 2025 cycle.
The project received full endorsement from IPOPHL and the then-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), with field missions conducted in 2023 and 2025 to finalize the technology design and branding direction.
Implemented under the IP Sharing Project, the initiative follows a four-stage approach — feasibility review, research and development, technology localization, and IP-based commercialization — aimed at helping community enterprises through appropriate technology and the One Village One Brand program.
Stakeholders expect the project to improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen market competitiveness through culturally grounded branding.
With enhanced yields, safer extraction processes, and stronger IP protection, the partnership aims to position Bicol elemi oil as a premium, export-ready product in global markets.
OKB, a long-time partner of the Department of Trade and Industry, is known for organizing the “Orgullo kan Bikol” trade fair, which showcases Bicolano products, heritage, and tourism, and supports local MSMEs in expanding their market reach.
