Mr. Khalid Ebrahim, CEO of 505 Perfumes based in Bahrain is a farm visitor of Aetherial Natural Oil Corp today October 9, 2024 for the ocular inspection of Agarwood Trees growing for more than four years now in Tanza, Cavite.
Distribution of Agarwood Products and Derivatives in Arab states of the Persian Gulf is the main concern of Mr. Khalid’s visit. His group is interested on Agarwood Leaf Tea, Beauty Soap, Agarwood Gift and Novelty Items, Incense, Exhausted Powder, Chips and of course Supercritical Extracted Oud Oil of Aquilaria malaccensis (Bari).
The Agarwood National Federation is expected to do a trial shipment of exporting Oud Oil in the last quarter of year 2025.
On August 19, 2024, the National Officers of the Oud Philippine Growers Federation of Agriculture Cooperative (OPGFAC) visited the office of DTI Acting Secretary Hon. Maria Cristina Roque to discuss potential collaborations. The delegation was led by National Chairman Manuelito R. Putong of the Agarwood Growers Agriculture Cooperative (AGAC) in Region 6, National Director Oliver Dan De Luna of the Agarwood Leyte Agriculture Cooperative (ALAC) in Region 8, and Laurenti E. Putong, Chairman of the Agarwood Cavite Agriculture Cooperative (ACAC) in Region 4A. They were joined by Atty. Oliver Baclay Jr. of Gulapa Law, OIC Regional Director for R4B Rodolfo J. Mariposque, Mr. Francis Penaflor of the Board of Investments (BOI), Ms. Fenina Bonoan of the Export Management Bureau (EMB), and Mr. Merdiorhee M. Cabardo, also of the EMB.
During the meeting, Acting Secretary Roque pledged the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) full support for the emerging agarwood industry in the Philippines. This support will be coordinated through DTI’s attached agencies: the Board of Investments (BOI), the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS), the Export Management Bureau (EMB), and the Regional Operations Group (ROG).
OIC Regional Director Rodolfo J. Mariposque from the Regional Operations Group (ROG) also requested the development of a roadmap to guide collaborative activities moving forward.
Thank you very much DLSU Community for having us invited to talk about AGARWOOD, it was an honor to be part of it and greatly appreciated hosting “Agarwood Symposium” last July 19, 2024. This of course through the exceptional effort of Dr. Joel Garcia and his team in organizing the event.
The recent Biology Learning Exchange & Networking Discussions (BLEND) of Cavite State University (CvSU) on Agarwood Production last Monday June 10, 2024 concluded with great success. Esteemed speakers Dr. Antonio C. Laurena, Research Professor 8 of Biochemistry-Analytical Services Laboratories, Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB), College of Agriculture and Food Science, UP Los Baños; Mr. Manuelito R. Putong, Founding Chairman of Oud Philippine Growers Federation of Agriculture Cooperative (OPGFAC); and Mr. Jeroen Lauri P. Joyel, Vice-President of Putz Agarwood Farm Corp shared their valuable insights on this critical topic. The event saw enthusiastic participation from BS Biology students, faculty members, and university staff.
Following the engaging session, the speakers, along with Dr. Lloyd O. Balinado, Department of Biological Sciences (DBS) Chairperson, Dr. Armi Grace B. Desingaño, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean, and Dr. Hosea L. Matel (Makapuno Research and Development,. Innovation and Resource Center (MRDIRC) Director, paid a courtesy visit to Dr. Melbourne R. Talactac, Vice President for Research and Extension. This collaborative effort highlights our commitment to advancing biological sciences, particularly in enhancing Agarwood production and sustainability. This event marks just the beginning of a promising future research collaboration.
MOA signing between DOST-FPRDI and Agarwood Growers Producers Cooperative (AGPC) last February 8, 2023 at DOST-FPRDI, Los Banos, Laguna
The partnership will involve research and development on the utilization of Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis Lam., local name Bari) in the country. It also aims to capacitate the local Agarwood growers through technical assistance.
Present in the MOA signing are DOST-FPRDI Director Dr. Romulo T. Aggangan, Deputy Director Dr. Rico J. Cabangon, AGPC Chairman Mr. Philip T. Lim, AGAP Director Mr. Manuelito Putong, Secretariat Mr. Noel Putong and Ms. Ching Alcantara, F3TP Program Leader For. Florena B. Samiano, Chemistry and Biotechnology Section Chief Ms. Rebecca Lapuz, Project Leader Ms. Kimberly Delica, S&T Fellow Mr. Edmark C. Kamantigue, and several Region IV AGPC Board Members.