Last June 14, the newly created collective mark for the Bikol Pili industry was officially launched in Legazpi City, the Philippines.
(Photo: Nevertheless photography services)
The event celebrated the registration of the collective mark of Orgullo Kan Bicol Association (OKB) with the national IP Office in the Philippines (IPOPHL). Bikolano producers of nuts, pastries, handicrafts and cosmetic products coming from Pili, a tropical tree that grows in the volcanic soil of the Philippines, will be able to use the collective mark to better position their products in the market.
During the Launch Event, members of OKB, pili producers, researchers, government representatives and other stakeholders exchanged about the relevance of trademarks, and in particular collective marks, for local businesses; the significance of the Bikol Pili collective mark for the industry; the challenges and opportunities faced by farmers, processors and traders in the region; and prospects for the future.
The collective mark has been developed as part of the ongoing Development Agenda Project that WIPO is implementing in the Philippines in collaboration with IPOPHL, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and other local partners. The project, also implemented in Bolivia, Tunisia and Brazil, aims at facilitating the use of this IP tool by local communities.
Since the official launch of the project in January 2021, the project team has been working with Bikol Pili stakeholders to help them fully grasp the potential benefits of a collective mark, and then develop their own. After a series of consultations and workshops, the OKB association was able to agree on a set of standards and rules to govern the production of Pili products and the use of the mark.
The mark covers raw and processed pili food products, as well as non-food products, such as garments, fashion accessories and wearables, cosmetics and beauty products and essential oils. The project also covered the design of a logo that reflects the vision of the Bikol Pili community.
