The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with South Korean intellectual property agencies and a Bicol-based trade group to modernize the local elemi industry through technology and branding support.
The agreement, signed with the Ministry of Intellectual Property of Korea (MOIP), the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) and the Orgullo Kan Bikol Association (OKB), formalizes a collaboration to improve elemi oil extraction.
The project, titled “2025 IP Sharing Project,” introduces a specialized extraction system designed to replace improvised distillation methods that previously resulted in low yields and safety risks for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The new technology addresses labor intensity and enables safer processing while supporting a shared facility for local producers. Throughout 2025, the initiative included field research, equipment installation and training programs to ensure the sustainable development of the Bicol region’s resin-based industry.
Under the framework, MOIP and KIPA will lead research and brand development, while IPOPHL Bureau of Trademarks will serve as the local project manager overseeing field operations and awareness campaigns. OKB will be responsible for site management, safety and community engagement.
“It is a collective affirmation that innovation, when guided by purpose, can uplift communities,” IPOPHL acting director-general Nathaniel Arevalo said during the ceremony.
OKB president Erika Pereña noted that the MOU enhances branding strategies and creates an ecosystem where farmers and entrepreneurs collaborate. She said the project restores dignity to local production and prepares Bicolano MSMEs for the global market.
KIPA vice president Dong Wan Kim said he expects the new technology and brand to provide tangible benefits to the local economy and achieve success internationally.
The OKB association, which supports regional MSMEs, also organizes the “Orgullo kan Bikol” trade fair to promote heritage, tourism and local products.
