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.