IPOPHL, ROK partners and industry group sign MOU to advance elemi oil technology, branding in Bicol
December 22, 2025
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), together with the Ministry of Intellectual Property of Korea (MOIP), the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) and the Orgullo Kan Bikol Association (OKB), has formalized a five-year cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen the Bicol region’s elemi industry through technology and branding support.
The signing marks the culmination of a year-long collaboration that developed and deployed a specialized elemi oil extraction technology 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.
Through the project, a customized extraction system was installed in the OKB community, addressing long-standing issues of low yield, labor intensity and safety risks associated with improvised distillation systems used by MSMEs. The new equipment enables safer, more efficient processing and supports the setup of a shared facility for local producers.
Running from January to December 2025, the project includes field research, equipment development, installation, training programs and a year-end demonstration of results.
The MOU will support long-term cooperation through sustained capacity building on equipment use, sustainable harvesting and branding aligned with strong IP protection.
MOIP and KIPA will lead the research, design and development of the equipment and brands. IPOPHL, through the Bureau of Trademarks as the local Project manager, will oversee field activities, coordination, monitoring and awareness campaigns. OKB, as the beneficiary, will be responsible for site preparation, operation, safety, feedback and community engagement.
Acting Director General Nathaniel S. Arevalo welcomed the partnership, noting that the signing “is far more than a ceremonial exchange of signatures.”
“It is a collective affirmation that innovation, when guided by purpose, can uplift communities; that IP, when made accessible and meaningful, can empower local industries; and that international cooperation, when rooted in trust, can open doors to long-term, sustainable development,” he said during the ceremony held virtually via Zoom on December 4, 2025
For her part, Ms. Erika O. Pereña, Association President of OKB, the project’s beneficiary, expressed that the “MOU signals our readiness to move forward to ensure the effective use of the developed elemi oil extractor to enhance branding strategies and to cultivate an ecosystem where farmers, processors, entrepreneurs and local institutions collaborate with shared purpose.”
“The completion of this project marks a milestone not only for the Pili industry but for the entire Bicol region. Beyond technology, this project restores dignity to local production and affirms our identity as a global ready Bicolano MSMEs and innovators,” Pereña added.
KIPA Vice President Dong Wan Kim said he is optimistic that “direction, technology and brand developed through the project will provide tangible benefits to the local economy and become a breakthrough success in the global market.”
The initiative builds on a proposal first developed in 2022 by OKB and IPOPHL’s Bureau of Trademarks (BOT). Accepted by KIPA in 2023 for the 2025 cycle, the project received full endorsement from IPOPHL and the then-National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Field missions conducted in 2023 and 2025 helped finalize the technology design and branding direction.
The IP Sharing Project supports community enterprises through Appropriate Technology (AT) and One Village One Brand (OVOB) programs. It follows four stages: feasibility review, research and development, technology localization and IP-based commercialization.
The project is seen to transform Bicol’s elemi sector by boosting production efficiency, reducing costs and strengthening market competitiveness through authentic, culturally grounded branding. It is expected to raise farmers’ and MSMEs’ incomes through higher yields, safer extraction, improved access to premium markets and new opportunities in processing, packaging and brand development. With strong IP protection and cohesive branding, the initiative aims to position Bicol elemi as a globally competitive export.
The OKB Association recognized the project’s significance in harnessing the Bicol pili industry’s vast potential for exports to global markets.
“This collaboration enables us to preserve and strengthen the heritage through science, technology and intellectual property protection, ensuring that our traditions continue to thrive in a modern global context,” OKB’s Pereña said.
The OKB is a Bicol-based organization that helps local MSMEs by providing opportunities to showcase their products and grow their businesses. The association is a partner of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and is known for organizing the long-running “Orgullo kan Bikol” trade fair, which highlights Bicolano heritage, products, and tourism. # # # (Leah Alire, Information Officer II)